Compound Interest
Radiation exposure – something you’d undoubtedly want to avoid. But we’re all exposed to low levels of background radiation all the time, and the majority of this comes from the ground beneath our feet. The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News looks at how radon is generated by radioactive decay and […]
A lot of people have tattoos: an estimated 12% of Europeans and 24% of Americans. What’s in tattoo ink, and how are different coloured tattoos produced? This graphic for National Tattoo Day (July 17) takes a look.
Today (22 April) is Earth Day. While currently, we’re somewhat preoccupied with a different crisis, the climate crisis remains a pressing concern. Nuclear power is an oft-mentioned alternative to fossil fuels but comes with the associated problem of nuclear waste. Here, Matthew Harris explains some of the storage solutions and puts the problem in perspective.
Asbestos has been in the news recently, along with the health concerns surrounding it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. has proposed a framework that opens the door to new uses of asbestos. With many other countries already banning all types of asbestos, what are the risks, and is there cause for concern?
Over the past few weeks, concern has been growing regarding the contamination of eggs for sale in a number of EU countries with the chemical Fipronil. Currently seven different countries have discovered contaminated eggs, and it has led to large number of eggs being withdrawn from sale. So, what is Fipronil, how has it gotten […]
Acrylamide has been in the news this week, with the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) warning that eating overcooked potatoes, crisps, or burnt toast could increase your risk of developing cancer. Does this mean you should be consigning your toaster to the trash and avoiding roast potatoes with your roast dinner? This graphic assesses the […]