Compound Interest: Chemistry infographics

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine: The discovery of the receptors that let us sense temperature and touch

October 4, 2021 0Comments 1Like 180Views

Infographic on the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which was awarded for the discoveries of several receptors for temperature and touch. David Julius identified the TRPV1 receptor, which senses temperature, using capsaicin from chilli peppers. Further temperature sensing ion channels include TRPM8, activated by cold temperatures and identified using menthol, the cool compound in mint. Ardem Patapoutian discovered mechanosensitive receptors, Piezo1 and Piezo2, which are essential for the sense of touch, regulating blood pressure, respiration and bladder control. Understanding these receptors has led to the development of treatment for pain, some cancers, and asthma. — Click to enlarge

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded today, to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian “for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch”.

What is folic acid, and why is it important during pregnancy?

September 21, 2021 0Comments 2Likes 241Views

Infographic titled 'Why is folic acid important during pregnancy?'. Folic acid is a human-made form of folate, vitamin B9. We have to get it from our diet. It's converted into folate in the body. Folate is found naturally in a number of foods, particularly leafy vegetables, seeds, and nuts. It can also be added to some foods including flour, a process known as fortification. Low levels of folate have been linked to neural tube defects (NTDs). These happen when the neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord, doesn't develop or close properly, leading to conditions like spina bifida. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduces the risk of NTDs by about 70%. The mechanism by which folate reduces NTDs isn't known, but folate is important for building nucleic acids, the building blocks of DNA. Large quantities of nucleic acids are required by the developing neural tube for DNA replication, and folic acid deficiency may impact this. — Click to enlarge

This week, the UK has confirmed it plans to fortify non-wholemeal flour with folic acid. It’s not the first country to do so: the United States has been fortifying flour with folic acid since 1998. Most countries in South America and a number in Asia also have mandatory fortification programs. This graphic looks at the reasons for fortification with folic acid – and making it also got me wondering why the practice isn’t more widespread in Europe.

Infographic on the chemistry of dahlia flower colours. The colours of dahlias are a result of anthocyanin-, chalcone- and aurone-derived pigments. Colourless sflavones also interact with and stabilisse anthocyanin pigments. Chalcones and aurones lead to yellow and orange dahlias, while anthocyanins play a part in orange, pink, red and black dahlias. Blue dahlias aren't seen because dahlias lack an enzyme for making delphinidin, the anthocyanin which leads to blue flowers.

Dahlia colour chemistry: Why don’t we see blue dahlias?

September 12, 2021 0Comments 2Likes 225Views

Dahlias: the jewels of the late summer garden. Shades of red, yellow, orange, pink, with their petals forming intricate geometric structures. But, like roses and many other flowers, the dahlia spectrum is missing one colour: blue. So why are blue blooms so rare in nature?

Risks of Radon: The radiation beneath our feet – in C&EN

September 8, 2021 0Comments 0Likes 210Views

Click to view the full graphic on the C&EN site

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 the risks that elevated radon levels can pose to our health. Click through to the C&EN site to view the full graphic.

Introducing The Compound Interest Newsletter

September 3, 2021 0Comments 0Likes 161Views

Does a newsletter with links to topical chemistry graphics and other chemistry-related content from across the web sound like it would be interesting? Well, good news!

What are the Olympics athletics tracks made of?

August 7, 2021 0Comments 1Like 210Views

Infographic on the materials science of athletics tracks. The 2020 Olympics use a specially designed track surface made from rubber, which returns to its original shape when it's deformed. Vulcanisation (treatment of rubber with sulfur) increases rubber's rigidity by forming crosslinks between rubber polymer chains. Rubber granules embedded in the layers form bonds with the vulcanised rubber matrix, improving elasticity and shock absorption. The texture of the track surface improves slip resistance and traction, while the honeycomb layer of the bottom layers also aids shock absorption. Other types of running track bind rubber particles with a polyurethane polymer over an asphalt base, and these track surfaces are commonly used for school and community tracks. — Click to enlarge

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 graphic to take a closer look at the materials science behind the track surface.