Categories
Biochemistry C&EN

Liquid assets: How mucus, tears and saliva protect us from infection – in C&EN

Snot, tears, and spit might sound unpleasant, but all three are an important part of our immune systems. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical and Engineering News, we compare them and look at their components’ role in protecting us from infections. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.

Categories
Biochemistry

Valentine’s Day: The chemistry of love

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a brief look at some of the many chemicals involved in the feeling of love. For more on neurotransmitters in general, there’s also this post. Download link for this graphic below, along with links to some extra reading on the topic! Note: This is an updated version of a graphic originally published […]

Categories
Biochemistry C&EN Halloween Chemistry

Halloween Special: What are our skeletons made of? – in C&EN

Our bones don’t just create the supporting frames for our bodies—they also perform a number of important roles for our health. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News, we look at the materials in bones and what some of them do. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.

Categories
Biochemistry Nobel Prizes

The 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Clicking together molecules to make new medicines and investigate biological molecules

The 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless for their development of click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry.

Categories
Alcohol Chemistry Biochemistry

How is alcohol-free beer made?

Alcohol-free beer is increasingly popular and sought-after as people become warier of their alcohol intake. A few decades ago alcohol-free beer was a poor imitation, but these days it’s steadily improving and some examples can hold their own compared to the real thing. This graphic takes a look at how alcohol-free beer is defined, the […]

Categories
Biochemistry

Dandelion chemistry: Diuretics and the tyres of the future

Dandelions: Loved by children, loathed by (most) gardeners. Often dismissed as a weed, dandelions lend themselves to several uses — and might be the solution to making more sustainable car tyres.