Port’s often relegated to the festive period, and forgotten about for the rest of the year (at least, in the UK). This is a shame as if you look beyond the standard ruby port, there are several other delicious types, particularly the varieties that are aged for longer periods of time. There’s also some interesting chemistry behind these varieties and how they transform during ageing.
Cooking is chemistry, so it should come as no surprise that chemical knowledge can help in the kitchen. The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN includes four practical tips and the science behind them. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
Today marks the birthday of Antoine Lavoisier, one of the key figures in chemistry history and often referred to as ‘the father of modern chemistry’. This short graphic takes a look at some of his key contributions to chemical understanding and the system of naming chemical substances we still use today.
Hitting the swimming pool this summer? Swimwear relies on a range of materials to keep you comfortable and prevent it from breaking down. This edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN looks at what swimsuits are made of, and how a little chemistry knowledge goes a long way when it comes to keeping them in good shape and stopping their materials from fading and stretching.
It’s the final of the Women’s Football World Cup this weekend, with England facing off against Spain. Here’s a quick look at what the trophy the winners will lift on Sunday is made of.
Nothing embodies ‘life in plastic’ like Barbie dolls themselves. From relatively simple beginnings, today’s dolls have parts made of various plastics with varying properties. This graphic looks at Barbie’s chemical makeup and how it’s changed over the years.
This month’s edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN comes off of the back of my ending up on tetracyclines for a chest infection a month or so ago. This alerted me to their ability to make the skin of people taking them more sensitive to sunlight. It turns out that there are a number of odd and unexpected side effects of medications people take for a variety of conditions, so this graphic rounds up some of the oddest I came across. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
