Today marks the anniversary of the birth of August Kekulé, most famous for his proposed structure for the benzene molecule. This graphic looks at his structure and its limitations and shows how later work improved upon his initial proposal.
An aeroplane safety briefing always instructs on using oxygen masks in an emergency, but where does this oxygen come from? This edition of Periodic Graphics looks at how chemistry cleans the air you breathe on a plane and generates the oxygen that keeps you safe in an emergency. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
A magical fox, running across the Arctic fells, its tail spraying snow and sparks into the air. The dead, playing football in the heavens with a walrus skull. Or the souls of dead children, dancing in the sky.
These are myths surrounding the aurora, stories ancient cultures close to the North Pole told to explain the ethereal lights they saw flickering in the night sky above their heads. Now, we know that these breathtaking displays aren’t of supernatural origin but due to chemical processes high in the atmosphere. This graphic explains how auroras form and what causes the different colours.
Swimming pools, sunscreen, and the summer sun can all affect lighter hair colours. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN, we look at the chemistry behind how some summer activities may alter some hair colours. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
Space elevators, a way of getting cargo and materials into space without rockets, have made frequent appearances in science fiction for decades. Making them a reality, however, is challenging. In this latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN, we take a look some of the material requirements for space elevators, and which existing materials might be close to meeting these requirements. See the full graphic on the C&EN site.
The Olympics are in full swing, so this graphic looks at the medals each competitor can win in their events. As well as the usual gold, silver and bronze content, this Olympics’ medals have an added twist that lets winners take home a piece of the Eiffel Tower with them!
Constipation and diarrhoea: two extremes of a crappy spectrum. Luckily, we have medicines to deal with either, and this graphic examines the different categories and how they help get things flowing freely (or less freely) again.