chemistry
Speakeasy Science
Tag archives for chemistry
“This is not to say that all chemicals are evil”
Posted by Deborah Blum on May 7, 2010 The title of this post is taken from today’s opinion piece by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, which focuses on carcinogens in our daily life and our failure to regulate exposure to dangerous compounds. Kristof’s point is that we should do a better job of protecting ourselves and our environment from industrial compounds. No…
Like the shining dawn
Posted by Deborah Blum on April 24, 2010 The chemical symbol for the metallic element gold is Au, taken from the Latin word aurum meaning ‘shining dawn’. In the Periodic Table of Elements it occupies a companionable neighborhood of other metals, tucked neatly between platinum (Pt) and mercury (Hg). But as origin of its chemical symbol indicates, we’ve long found difficult to be…
National Poison Prevention Week
Posted by Deborah Blum on March 15, 2010 Let me begin with a confession: until I researched and wrote a book about poisons, The Poisoner’s Handbook, I never paid too much attention to National Poison Prevention Week. Like most of us, I was just too comfortable with our chemical culture, the toxic compounds that we use daily to clean our sinks and counters,…
Gummy bear chemistry
Posted by Deborah Blum on March 14, 2010 I couldn’t resist this wonderfully explosive video on YouTube showing the unfortunate end of a red gummy bear when mixed with potassium perchlorate. I do love to watch a good hissing, sparking chemical reaction. Especially when it’s not me doing the sparking (see earlier blog on the art of setting one’s hair on fire in…
Chemistry confessions
Posted by Deborah Blum on February 22, 2010 I’ve just started my book tour for The Poisoner’s Handbook and people seem to be wondering why I (a friendly mother-of-two) am so fascinated by poisons. I admit to a fascination with murder mysteries (count on me later in this blog to write about Agatha Christie). I share my affection for forensic dramas on television.…
The poisoner among us
Posted by Deborah Blum on February 14, 2010 Last week, The Poisoner’s Handbook got a great, pre-publication review in one of my favorite magazines, New Scientist. I was thrilled – and relieved. Hard to say which came first. The week before publication – the book’s official date is Feb. 22 – always makes me a little crazy. But much as I like my…
Secrets of Smoke
Posted by Deborah Blum on January 29, 2010 In 1854, the essayist Henry David Thoreau published an ode to a morning fire: “Light-winged Smoke, Icarian bird… Lark without song, and messenger of dawn.” Scientists, of course, saw the hazing blue of wood smoke – or any smoke derived from burning plant material – as something less poetic. In particular, the smoke from dried…