Everyday Science
Everyday Science articles explain the science behind natural phenomena, giving us an appreciation of all the beauty on this pale blue dot that we call home.
Why Branched Hydrocarbons Are Better for Car Engines
With crude oil prices reaching record highs earlier this year, it’s no surprise that we want to get the most mileage from our gas (petrol). Our car engines run on gasoline, a mixture of carbon-rich [...]
Producing Biofuel from Rice Husk—A Substitute For Gas?
The next Tesla may come from Asia, with the potential to produce 36 million tons of biofuel annually from rice husk. Rice husk has long been treated as an agricultural waste product, despite its high [...]
Brewing the Perfect Espresso, With Chemistry!
“My God, that’s the best coffee I’ve ever tasted; why the hell are we making meth?” Coffee is widely consumed and loved (even by drug kingpins), yet no one can agree on what makes an [...]
Komodo Dragons Are Cold-Blooded Killers With Venomous Proteins
On the tropical island of Komodo in Indonesia, just a few hours’ boat ride from the tourist hotspot of Bali, Komodo dragons rule the roost. These large reptiles are apex predators, hunting and devouring almost [...]
Soaking Up the Sun—The Chemistry Behind Sunscreen
It’s that time of the year again when longer days and warm sunshine beckon us outdoors. Promising progress of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts has led to the palpable hope that this summer will not be like [...]
Using Quantum Processes in Our Brains to Crack Computer Encryptions
The goal of a quantum computer is to perform computations that would be too intensive and impractically long for a classical computer to compute. One such computation where it is often cited that a quantum [...]
