chemistry

That delicious bowl of cheddar soup is really a big bowl of (good) bacteria.

Don't let the name fool you: Urinal cakes are most definitely not meant to be eaten. So what are they, and what do they do?

There’s a science behind all those colors.

The chemistry behind the vibrant colors of fireworks is another reason to “ooh” and “aah” at the sky this Fourth of July.

Many bread recipes call for active dry yeast, but is it OK to substitute for instant yeast in a jam?

You can use active dry and instant yeast interchangeably in most cases, but they’re not exactly the same.

Learning how to stop a ring from turning your finger green is easy. So is understanding why it happens in the first place.

Your bread and your yoga mat might have something in common.

Red dye 40, olestra, and rbST all have the FDA’s stamp of approval. In other countries, they’re on the do-not-use list.

One state has banned consumer fireworks outright. And in 2012, San Diego accidentally set off all of theirs at once.

You might think that urine is just bodily waste—but you would be wrong. It's been used in cleansers, medicine, and infertility treatments for centuries.

“I hope this email finds you well during these unprecedented times.” —A spinach plant in your inbox.

A Twinkie was found shriveled-up and hardened after eight years in a basement, and now scientists are searching for the fungus behind the transformation.

Tsar Bomba—the biggest hydrogen bomb ever—detonated in October 1961, and the Soviet Union caught it on tape.

Dr. Maya Warren spoke with us about how she turned her passion for ice cream and food science into one of the coolest jobs ever.

For one thing, tear gas grenades are usually used for crowd control—pepper spray is more for personal safety.

Lava lamp creators are notoriously tight-lipped about their secret ingredients, but DIY lava lamps aren’t impossible.

Marie Curie made history with her discoveries. Here are some facts you should know about the scientist.

A New York chemist found a way to make dry cleaning safer and faster, so of course he named the process after himself.

Statue of Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge in Germany.

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, the subject of a a new Google doodle, is the German chemist who identified caffeine.

Ancient Romans put it in everything—even their wine.

Pslawinski, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.5

Most of the signs you think are neon are actually made with other gases.

You just need three ingredients: Flour, water, and fat. What could go wrong?

Why exactly does brining make your roasted turkey so delicious?

Time to get out the bleach.

Silver makes it rain—in more ways than one.

It's deeply concerning to archaeologists and paleontologists who rely on the method.

The Scientific Reason Cheddar Cheese Tastes So Good

What Are Urinal Cakes, Anyway?

How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?

Active Dry Yeast vs. Instant Yeast: What’s the Difference?

Why Does Fake Jewelry Turn Your Skin Green?

7 Everyday American Food Additives Banned in Other Countries

9 Fascinating Facts About Fireworks

9 Fascinating Facts About Urine

Sprout of Office: Scientists Taught Spinach Plants to Send Emails About Hazardous Materials in the Soil

8-Year-Old Twinkies Intrigue Fungus Experts

Recently Declassified Soviet Video Shows the Biggest Nuclear Explosion in History

Meet Ice Cream Scientist Dr. Maya Warren

Tear Gas vs. Pepper Spray: What’s the Difference?

What Is Inside a Lava Lamp?

Marie Curie

What Is One Hour Martinizing?

7 Facts About Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge

10 Facts About the Element Lead

8 Facts About the Element Neon

How to Make a Homemade Pie Crust, According to Science

The Science Behind Brining Your Thanksgiving Turkey

Your Showerhead Is Really Gross—and It Might Make You Sick

8 Facts About Silver

How Fossil Fuel Use Is Making Carbon Dating Less Accurate