February 2025

Free Articles

FEATURE

Can Plants Fuel Champions?

By Grant Curin
Plant-based diets are becoming more and more popular among athletes. What are the advantages, or drawbacks, to eating a plant-based diet and what impact might a plant-based diet have on athletic performance? It’s all about macro- and micronutrients.


OPEN FOR DISCUSSION

Chemistry Is the Foundation of Life, But What Does It Mean to Be Alive?

It may seem easy to distinguish whether something is alive or not. But how can chemistry help us answer this question?


CHEMISTRY IN PERSON

Why Your Sense of Smells Is Basically Infinite

Steven Munger discusses his round-about journey into chemistry and the mysteries of smell and taste that have kept him fascinated throughout his career.

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Bottles of milk surrounded by oats and nuts

Milk: It’s What’s Growing in the Garden

Almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, soy milk, even hemp milk are all popular substitutes for cow’s milk. But the chemistry behind converting these non-dairy options into good dairy substitutes isn’t trivial

Teacher's Guide (DOC)   Teacher's Guide (Google Doc)


Woman smelling pink flowers

Bringing Back the Sense of Smell

By Wynne Parry
Imagine not being able to smell your favorite fl ower or your dinner cooking. The sense of smell is often unappreciated until it's gone. Scientists are working to find ways to bring it back using chemistry and electronics.

Teacher's Guide (DOC)   Teacher's Guide (Google Doc)


Slab of wood

Beyond Glass: Making Wood Transparent

By Brian Rohrig
A cracked phone screen can ruin your day. Could a wooden screen solve the problem? Making wood transparent means removing the colored compounds in wood called lignins and then filling in the air pockets with polymers.

Teacher's Guide (DOC)   Teacher's Guide (Google Doc)