Articles by Topic

Volcanoes are a spectacular and terrifying example of nature’s might. But what we know about them can help us predict their eruptions—and save lives.

A high school student in upstate New York learns about marine chemistry by raising jellyfish in the classroom! Find out how her project connects to climate change.

Serious illnesses and even deaths related to vaping have sparked a debate over the use of e-cigarette devices. The cases have also brought attention to what scientists and health officials do and don't know about vaping.

Changes in our global atmosphere are adding carbon dioxide to the air we breathe, and also to our oceans. Find out about the far-reaching effects to the underwater world.

It is storable milk. It can last weeks or years longer than milk and there is such a variety of cheese. But when did we start making and eating cheese? And why?

Mysterious. Alien. Magical. The captivating movements of ferrofluids in response to a magnetic field seem inexplicable—until you learn about the science behind the versatile material!

One of the main reasons smartphones are so “smart” is their chemistry. Smartphones contain at least 70 chemical elements, the displays are very strong thanks to hardened glass, and their touchscreens are made of materials that are sensitive to the touch of a finger.

An increasing number of everyday items are powered with the sun, including backpacks, watches, cars, and airplanes. Also electricity-generating solar power plants may become an alternative to coal-fired power plants and natural gas power stations in the future.

That iconic chart of elements in your classroom turned 150 in 2019! Celebrate with a look at its past and a peek into its intriguing future.

It might be cold outside, but the sun still emits harmful ultraviolet rays. Find out how to protect your eyes.

So far, no known planet—or moon—can match Earth’s Goldilocks conditions for life. Could we survive somewhere other than Earth?

Proteins are essential to good health, but overloading your diet with them comes with a cost. Learn how to get just the right amount.

How did the Flint water crisis happen, and what was done to make the city’s water safer to drink again?

Changes in our global atmosphere are adding carbon dioxide to the air we breathe, and also to our oceans. Find out about the far-reaching effects to the underwater world.

Composting is a way to harvest crops with natural fertilizer and reduce our contribution to greenhouse gases—a win-win!

Three simple ingredients make up marshmallows. But getting the right texture and sweetness requires just the right amounts of each.

How do you decide what texture of candy you want? We look at the process at the molecular level and reveal the chemistry behind candymaking.

Every living thing on Earth owes its life to a single process that arose billions of years ago: photosynthesis. Now, scientists are mimicking it to help reduce our fossil-fuel dependence that drives global warming.

In the movie The Martian, astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars but is able to survive by growing food in a habitation module. Would real astronauts be able to grow food and survive on Mars, too?

It is storable milk. It can last weeks or years longer than milk and there is such a variety of cheese. But when did we start making and eating cheese? And why?

Composting is a way to harvest crops with natural fertilizer and reduce our contribution to greenhouse gases—a win-win!

How do you decide what texture of candy you want? We look at the process at the molecular level and reveal the chemistry behind candymaking.

SUE is the largest and most complete fossilized T. rex ever found. A rock-like copy of her skeleton was preserved for millions of years until it was discovered in August 1990.

Tapes and glues are everywhere, making it easy to take them for granted. But take a quick look at their long, influential history, and you might gain a new appreciation for everyday adhesives!

Paper is an ancient invention, but its versatility for many uses from origami to packaging is unrivaled. Naturally, the key is in its chemistry!

Graphene, the thinnest known material, could be used to make foldable cell phones, and flexible solar panels, and devices that help people with spinal cord injuries regain use of their limbs.

You might have heard that the world is on the verge of running out of certain elements. But if matter cannot be created nor destroyed, what does it mean to run out of certain elements?

Nuclear power is often viewed by many as a dangerous technology that should become a relic of the past. But as the world seeks to reduce CO2 emissions to fight climate change, is it time to ramp up nuclear energy?

It might be cold outside, but the sun still emits harmful ultraviolet rays. Find out how to protect your eyes.

Feeding the growing world population comes with an environmental cost. Edible insects could be part of a sustainable and tasty future.

You may have heard of people who are sensitive to gluten or are lactose-intolerant. But have you heard of people who are FODMAP intolerant? You or someone you know may have this condition.

How did the Flint water crisis happen, and what was done to make the city’s water safer to drink again?

Why is it so hard for most teens to wake up early in the morning? It turns out the brain chemistry of teens is different from that of children and adults.

Nutrition labels show us the amount of calories, fats, carbs, and proteins present in the foods we eat and how much of them we need to consume every day. Here, we tell you how these values are measured and how they can help you stay healthy.

As the world heats up, farmers are figuring out what they can do to help fight climate change. A growing number are turning a greenhouse gas that comes from raising animals into a source of energy.

Some animals keep warm in frigid temperatures, while others stay cold when it is scorching hot. These animals have amazing adaptations that allow them to thrive in the most hostile environments.

Composting is a way to harvest crops with natural fertilizer and reduce our contribution to greenhouse gases—a win-win!

In the movie The Martian, astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars but is able to survive by growing food in a habitation module. Would real astronauts be able to grow food and survive on Mars, too?

The clothing industry has been called out for years for its unsustainable practices. To shrink the environmental footprint of fashion, scientists are tackling the complex challenge of clothes-to-clothes recycling.

Most people in the United States consume more salt than they should. So is it time to cut back on salt? Not necessarily. The recommended guidelines may need to be revised and the amount of salt that we consume may be just what we need.

What are the ingredients in ice cream that make it so delicious?

A large amount of the foods we eat contains food colorings. We tell you where they come from, how they work, and the difference between natural and artificial food colorings.

Volcanoes are a spectacular and terrifying example of nature’s might. But what we know about them can help us predict their eruptions—and save lives.

Three simple ingredients make up marshmallows. But getting the right texture and sweetness requires just the right amounts of each.

The puffy white letters of skywriting look similar to the contrail streaks that you see trailing from airplanes. But a close look at the chemistry reveals what makes them so different.

Some animals keep warm in frigid temperatures, while others stay cold when it is scorching hot. These animals have amazing adaptations that allow them to thrive in the most hostile environments.

So far, no known planet—or moon—can match Earth’s Goldilocks conditions for life. Could we survive somewhere other than Earth?