A growing collection of articles looking at substances like nicotine, LSD, and marijuana from a chemical perspective, exploring how they are used and why, how they work, etc.
Some plants have evolved highly poisonous compounds as a defense mechanism against predators
Alcohol
We look at the chemistry behind breathalizers and their development since 1931
What happens to alcohol after it has been consumed?
When drinking modern absinthe, is there still a chance of getting a kiss from the Green Fairy like the Bohemian Parisians at the end of the 19th century? How dangerous is it to drink absinthe?
How can a tiny molecule like ethanol be at the root of so much human misery?
A closer look at the chemical role hops play in the beer-brewing process shows how beer owes its marvelous flavor to a great deal of chemistry
Looking a bit deeper into the glass we discover that there is a great deal of chemistry involved … only chemistry can be this tingling
An estimated 741,000 new cases of cancer in 2020 were associated with alcohol consumption globally
The short video describes which processes take place in the body during alcohol breakdown and how long this takes
Using molecular sieves to avoid the sweet taste of non-alcoholic beer
A look at the chemistry of anise seed, which is used as a spice, either ground or whole, as well as the ouzo effect
LSD and Psilocybin
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was first synthesized November 16, 1938, by Albert Hofmann
Psilocybe germanica lives on wood chips and contains significant amounts of psilocybin and baeocystin
UK scientists have homed in on the activity of psilocybin, a classic psychedelic found in magic mushrooms
Marijuana
Cannabinoids detected in hair samples from children mainly come from contaminated hands or surfaces
Nicotine
Looking at the history of tobacco consumption – from chewing and snuffing to smoking
Real-time monitoring of nicotine exposure, e.g., from vaping
It is commonly known that we inhale the smoke of a cigarette. Find out why we do so
Conformational differences of nicotinoids studied using gas-phase high-resolution microwave spectroscopy
Why do we smoke nicotine and do not inject it? How does an e-cigarette work?
It is unclear whether public health can actually benefit from new tobacco products
The short video explains how a flame is created in a lighter
Cocaine
Testing for minor cocaine metabolites in hair analysis has limited applications for definitive proof of active cocaine consumption
Vaccine could offer cocaine addicts a simple way to break and reverse their habit
Heroin
From cure-all to most notorious drug of the 20th century
Fiction
The multi-award-winning TV series is demanding, exciting, amusing, often shocking, and made with great attention to chemistry details
Take care of yourself, drugs can have devastating consequences …
Choose your pills wisely: A look behind the scenes at two cases that illustrate the different approaches used in forensic toxicology
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Beer owes its wonderful taste to a great deal of chemistry—a compilation of articles, videos, quizzes on chemistry related to beer
Fireworks, sparklers, sparkling wine, champagne, … there is chemistry involved everywhere
In chemistry as in our daily lives, alcohol comes in various forms, such as beer, wine, sake, or any organic compound with a hydroxyl group at a saturated carbon atom
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