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How Sticky Innovations Changed the World
By Carl E. Heltzel
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!
Can Copper Save Us from the Coronavirus?
By Michael Tinnesand
A recent claim is that a familiar metal, copper, could help us beat back the COVID-19 pandemic. There is already some basic science to suggest that it might help in some ways. Copper has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties, which seem to come from copper’s ability to conduct electricity.
A Different Way of Seeing
By Carl E. Heltzel
In Petaluma, California, where Hoby Wedler went to high school, a teacher once told him that his blindness would make it exceedingly difficult for him to study lab chemistry. But Wedler has frequently chosen not to take the easy route. Undeterred, Wedler took high school chemistry, then went on to earn college degrees in history and chemistry.
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The Search for Hidden Plastics
By XioZhi Lim
Millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans every year, but only some ends up floating on the surface. Researchers are on a mission to find out where the rest of the plastic has gone and what risks it might pose.
Lighting Up the Night Sky
By Jeffrey Deakin
For millennia, the ghostly, breathtaking northern lights have awed those who have seen them. Find out what causes the lights, where you might catch a glimpse of them, and how studying these auroras can help protect us.
What is Hand Sanitizer, and Does It Keep Your Hands Germ-Free?
By Laura Howes/Chemical & Engineering News
Hand sanitizer has become an essential tool in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. But not all hand sanitizers are the same. Make sure you know which ones to buy—and what’s a better alternative.
