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 C&EN Halloween Chemistry

Halloween special: The Science of Fear – in C&EN

It’s spooky season, and for this year’s Halloween special we’re looking at the biochemistry that makes you jump and panic when things go bump in the night! View the full graphic on the Chemical & Engineering News site.

Categories
Biochemistry C&EN Halloween Chemistry

The chemistry of spiderwebs – in C&EN

It’s October, which means mating season for a lot of the spiders that lurk in our gardens and around our houses. Like them or loathe them, these arachnids use some fascinating biochemistry to weave their webs – and the material properties of their webs have inspired a variety of attempts to emulate them! Click through […]

Categories
Halloween Chemistry

The Chemistry of Mummification

Mummies are, perhaps, the easiest go-to costume for Halloween: grab some bandages, drape yourself in them, and job done. However, there’s a little more behind the traditional embalming process used in Ancient Egypt, as well as a surprising amount of chemistry. Here we take a look at the chemicals used in the process, and how […]

Categories
C&EN Food Chemistry Halloween Chemistry

The Chemistry of Pumpkins – in C&EN

With a week to go until Halloween, it’s time to get carving pumpkins! Before you do, check out this graphic on the chemistry of pumpkins I made for C&EN last year (you can view the full graphic on their site here). Stay tuned for more Halloween-related chemistry over the coming week!

Categories
Halloween Chemistry

Halloween Special: The Chemistry of Blood

Fake blood is an essential accessory if you’re going for a gory halloween look with your costume this year. There’s a lot of chemistry in the substance it sets out to mimic; we can explain the colour, smell, and different types of blood with the aid of chemistry (and some biology thrown in for good […]