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Materials Chemistry Sport Chemistry

What are the Olympics athletics tracks made of?

The 2020 Olympics may have been a bit late arriving thanks to the pandemic, but there’ve been no signs of sluggishness from athletes on the track. World records have been tumbling over the past weeks, and one factor behind this could be the technology used in the track. I worked with Jess Wade on this […]

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Materials Chemistry Sport Chemistry

What are the Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals made of?

The delayed 2020 Olympics are currently taking place in Tokyo, and setting a number of firsts. Obviously, it’s the first Olympics to take place without a public audience in the stadiums to watch the events. However, it’s also the first Olympics at which the medals are made entirely from recycled metals. This graphic takes a […]

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C&EN Sport Chemistry

Why are different gas mixes used for scuba diving? – in C&EN

To breathe underwater, divers need an air supply. But this air doesn’t always have the same composition as that we breathe above water. This month’s edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News looks at the reasons why. Click through to the C&EN site to view the full graphic.

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Materials Chemistry Sport Chemistry

What are the 2018 Winter Olympics medals made of?

If you’ve been enjoying the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang over the past few weeks, you might have wondered what the medals the winning athletes receive are made of. As this graphic shows, it’s not quite as simple as gold, silver, and bronze!

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Medicinal Chemistry Sport Chemistry

A Brief Guide to Doping in Sports

The Rio Olympics are underway, and after a build-up that’s already been marred by the Russian doping scandal, officials will be on the look-out for athletes trying to gain an edge by using performance-enhancing drugs. What types of drugs will they be looking for, and why might athletes be tempted to use them in the […]

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C&EN Medicinal Chemistry Sport Chemistry

The Chemistry Behind the Russian Doping Scandal – in C&EN

The run-up to the Rio Olympics has been overshadowed by a number of issues, not least of which is the doping scandal surrounding Russian competitors. This month’s Periodic Graphics in C&EN looks at the alleged chemical cocktail that was used to dope Russian athletes at the 2012 London Games and in the 2014 Sochi Winter […]