Chemistry

  1. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Absorb and Adsorb

    These words sound and look a lot alike. But crucial differences lie in how they soak up that spill.

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  2. Chemistry

    Some bacteria in wastewater can break down a common plastic

    These microbes can break the carbon bonds that make PET plastics so hard to degrade. This type of plastic makes up almost one-third of plastic waste.

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  3. Tech

    This teen engineer’s device sniffs out common food allergens

    Inspired by his own severe food allergies, Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Samvith Mahadevan built a device to protect people from allergen exposure.

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  4. Chemistry

    Let’s learn about chocolate

    Humans have been making chocolate for millennia. Now scientists are investigating how to make this tasty treat more abundant and nutritious.

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  5. Chemistry

    Behold the world’s thinnest pasta

    Made from white flour and formic acid, the nanofibers average just 370 nanometers across. That’s two-hundredths the thickness of a human hair.

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  6. Chemistry

    Experiment: How to keep fruit slices fresh

    Let’s explore why fruit tends to brown over time and how to keep it looking fresh.

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  7. Tech

    A lucky lab accident produces Spider-Man-like silk

    Researchers found a way to mimic Spider-Man’s web shooters in real life. This is the first adhesive that can stick to and lift things from a distance.

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  8. Archaeology

    Let’s learn about radiocarbon dating

    Through the power of radioactivity, carbon dating can reveal the age of many fossils and artifacts.

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  9. Brain

    Scientists Say: Dopamine

    This brain chemical helps focus our attention and plan our path toward success.

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  10. Chemistry

    Teen chemist uncovers potentially harmful preservatives in pet food

    Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Mackensey Wilson measured levels of a chemical called BHT in three pet food brands.

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  11. Chemistry

    Scientists Say: Rocket propellants

    Rockets need more than fuel to get where they need to go — they also need oxidizers to burn that fuel. Together, these chemical combos are known as rocket propellants.

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  12. Chemistry

    Experiment: What makes ice melt fastest?

    During the winter, you might have seen trucks spreading a mix of salt and sand on the roads to de-ice them. But how does that work? Let’s investigate.

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