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Chemical Abstracts First Publishes in 1907Day 1 January 1
Chemical Abstracts First Publishes in 1907
First issue of Chemical Abstracts, is published in 1907, featuring summaries of findings from scientists worldwide. Read more »
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Walnuts – Beneficial in Prostate Cancer?Day 2 January 2
Walnuts – Beneficial in Prostate Cancer?
St. Berchtold's Day, Switzerland. Named for Duke Berchtold V of Zähringen, who founded Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Eating nuts is a tradition on this day. Read more »
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MargarineDay 3 January 3
Margarine
Henry Bradley patented oleomargarine in 1871. This butter substitute was touted for its health benefits — until more studies clouded the picture. Read more »
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First Electrolytic Production Of BromineDay 4 January 4
First Electrolytic Production Of Bromine
In 1891, Herbert H. Dow discovers way to produce bromine, opening the doors for major chemical production in the U.S. Read more »
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George Washington Carver: Chemist, Teacher, SymbolDay 5 January 5
George Washington Carver: Chemist, Teacher, Symbol
Death of food chemist George Washington Carver, who discovered hundreds of new uses for crops such as the peanuts. Read more »
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CapsaicinDay 6 January 6
Capsaicin
This chemical, found in the flesh and seeds of chili peppers, can put a sizzle in a cold January day. Read more »
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Sir John Ernest WalkerDay 7 January 7
Sir John Ernest Walker
Sir John Ernest Walker born 1941, helped unravel the process that creates ATP, the molecule that transports energy throughout the body. Read more »
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Aircraft De-icersDay 8 January 8
Aircraft De-icers
When winter weather hits, air travelers can jet off to warmer climates, thanks to these chemicals, which dissolve snow and ice and then keep the water from refreezing. Read more »
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Søren SørensenDay 9 January 9
Søren Sørensen
What makes an acid an acid and a base a base? Søren Sørensen, born 1868, figured this out when he introduced the concept of pH as a measure of hydrogen ion concentration. Read more »
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Carl von LindeDay 10 January 10
Carl von Linde
This scientist developed a way to extract oxygen from the air, making it available to hospitals and industries and for use as rocket fuel. Read more »
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The Discovery of InsulinDay 11 January 11
The Discovery of Insulin
January 1922, the first successful treatment of diabetes with insulin, co-discovered by chemist Charles Best. Read more »
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Durable Press and Flame Retardant CottonDay 12 January 12
Durable Press and Flame Retardant Cotton
1916 birth of American chemist Ruth Rogan Benerito, a pioneer in the development of wash- and-wear fabrics. Her research resulted in the development of cotton fabrics that are crease and stain resistant and better able to retard flames. Read more »
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Self-Darkening EyeglassesDay 13 January 13
Self-Darkening Eyeglasses
National Eye Care Month: These shades aren’t just cool, they help protect eyes from the sun's high-energy UV light. Read more »
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Nail PolishDay 14 January 14
Nail Polish
This date marks the death of Paul Vieille, discoverer of nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in nail polish and gunpowder. Read more »
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Eleuthère Irénée du PontDay 15 January 15
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont
Eleuthère Irénée du Pont founded the DuPont company in 1802. January marks the anniversary month of the arrival of the du Pont family in America in 1800. Read more »
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FermiumDay 16 January 16
Fermium
Fermium, a radioactive rare earth metal, was first isolated and identified by scientists in 1953 at University of California, Berkeley. Read more »
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Artificial SnowDay 17 January 17
Artificial Snow
When Nature fails to drop enough snow or brings a January thaw, skiers use this to keep thing moving smoothly. Read more »
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Nanoscale solderingDay 18 January 18
Nanoscale soldering
In 1861, Hans Goldschmidt found a simple way to produce and use very high temperatures by mixing aluminum with a metallic oxide. The process is used in welding. Today, scientists working at the nano-scale are designing similar techniques in which a filler metal is melted to join metal pieces together. Read more »
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United States Synthetic Rubber ProgramDay 19 January 19
United States Synthetic Rubber Program
Harry Fisher, born 1885, inventor of rubber technology, helped the U.S. rubber industry replace tons of natural rubber with a synthetic substitute. Read more »
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Horace WellsDay 20 January 20
Horace Wells
Horace Wells, born 1815, gave patients a fit of giggles when he became the first to use nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as an anesthetic. Read more »
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Separation of Rare Earth ElementsDay 21 January 21
Separation of Rare Earth Elements
Separation of Rare Earth Elements — used in aluminum baseball bats, electronics and green technologies — first described in 1907. Read more »
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ExcipientsDay 22 January 22
Excipients
King James I charters the first English organization of pharmacists, 1617, long before these inactive ingredients in medicines could help drug delivery. Read more »
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Marie CurieDay 23 January 23
Marie Curie
In 1911, Nobel Laureate Marie Curie's nomination to the French Academy of Sciences is rejected by the Academy's all-male membership. Read more »
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An Internet Gold RushDay 24 January 24
An Internet Gold Rush
Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill, Calif., 1848, causing the ‘49er gold rush. Today, another type of gold rush is on, as companies “prospect” for solutions on the Internet. Read more »
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Robert BoyleDay 25 January 25
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle, born 1627, described the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas. Boyle’s law is used to calculate the volume and pressure of internal-combustion engines and steam engines. Read more »
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Atomic WeightDay 26 January 26
Atomic Weight
For the first time in history, a change was made to the atomic weights of some elements listed on the Table of Standard Atomic Weights of the chemical elements found in the inside covers of chemistry textbooks worldwide. Read more »
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F. August KekuléDay 27 January 27
F. August Kekulé
F. August Kekulé presented his six-sided benzene structure to the Société Chimique in Paris, 1865. Read more »
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Kathleen LonsdaleDay 28 January 28
Kathleen Lonsdale
Kathleen Yardley Lonsdale determined the crystal pattern of molecules using X-ray crystallography, part of a lifetime of fundamental contributions to the study of the of molecules using x-rays. Read more »
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The Ozone LayerDay 29 January 29
The Ozone Layer
1978, Sweden becomes the first nation to curb aerosol sprays to halt CFCs and destruction of the ozone layer. Read more »
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Peter AgreDay 30 January 30
Peter Agre
Peter Agre, born 1949, discovered "channels" that transport water through cell membranes, garnering him a 2003 Nobel Prize. Studies of the channels have helped in understanding kidney disease. Read more »
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Irving Langmuir, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1932Day 31 January 31
Irving Langmuir, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1932
Birth in 1881 of Irving Langmuir, renowned chemist and Nobel laureate who was namesake for an American Chemical Society journal. Read more »
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Dental AnestheticsDay 32 February 1
Dental Anesthetics
National Dental Month: Exotic compounds discovered by using high-throughput technology help take the pain out of dental work. Read more »
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GasolineDay 33 February 2
Gasoline
Leaded gasoline hit the U.S. market in Dayton, OH, 1923, when Thomas Midgley, Jr., of General Motors Research labs added tetraethyllead to gasoline. Read more »
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Shower CleanersDay 34 February 3
Shower Cleaners
Chinese New Year: To celebrate, families may give their homes a thorough cleaning, sweeping away any ill-fortune to make way for good luck in the new year. Showers are often one of the least enjoyable places to clean. Read more »
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Dr. Joseph Goldberger & the War on PellagraDay 35 February 4
Dr. Joseph Goldberger & the War on Pellagra
In 1915, Joseph Goldberger begins the experiment that demonstrates that pellagra is a dietary disease. Pellegra is caused by having too little niacin or Vitamin B3 in the diet. Read more »
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High Performance Carbon FibersDay 36 February 5
High Performance Carbon Fibers
In February 1960, materials engineer Roger Bacon published findings on studies of graphite and carbon fibers, which contributed to a revolution in the heat-resistant materials used in aircraft and satellites. Read more »
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Diagnostic Test StripsDay 37 February 6
Diagnostic Test Strips
Commemoration of test strips, used by millions to help manage diseases such as diabetes as well as kidney and liver conditions. Read more »
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John NewlandsDay 38 February 7
John Newlands
Four years before Mendeleev announced his Periodic Table, John Newlands organized the known elements by listing them in order by atomic weight, according to his "Law of Octaves." His method, published in Chemical News Feb.7, 1863, was ridiculed at the time. Read more »
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TaxolDay 39 February 8
Taxol
Robert Holton announces total synthesis of taxol, an important cancer drug, 1994. Taxol is used to treat breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Read more »
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Light SticksDay 40 February 9
Light Sticks
Adam’s Peak Pilgrimage, Sri Lanka: Pilgrims of all religions flock to climb the steps on this steep mountain path, which is illuminated with light. Read more »
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Artificial SweetenersDay 41 February 10
Artificial Sweeteners
Ira Remsen, born 1846, founder of American Chemical Journal, made life sweet for millions when he discovered saccharin. Read more »
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Frederick SoddyDay 42 February 11
Frederick Soddy
British radiochemist Frederick Soddy coins the word "isotope" for elements that appeared to occupy the same place on the periodic table. Read more »
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Discovery of Organic Free RadicalsDay 43 February 12
Discovery of Organic Free Radicals
Death of Moses Gomberg, 1947, who opened the study of free radicals in 1900 when he inadvertently prepared the first one, triphenylmethyl. Free radicals are essential to body functioning and are used in the production of plastics and other synthetic materials. Read more »
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Solar CellsDay 44 February 13
Solar Cells
In 1990, the U.S. space probe Voyager I captured a series of photographs of the sun on a voyage to the edge of the Solar System. Today, scientists are working to develop new materials and strategies for designing photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity. Read more »
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Silly PuttyDay 45 February 14
Silly Putty
This ‘silly’ toy made its debut this week in 1950 at the International Toy Fair in New York City. Read more »
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Chemistry and MicroelectronicsDay 46 February 15
Chemistry and Microelectronics
In 1897, Ferdinand Braun published a paper in the journal Annalen der Physik und Chemie describing his "Braun tube," which was the first cathode-ray oscilloscope. He developed this as a method to record and study the time dependence of alternating currents. Read more »
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Synthetic DiamondsDay 47 February 16
Synthetic Diamonds
Synthetic diamond makers are targeting the gem market first, but their product could transform many other industries, too Read more »
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Dmitri MendeleevDay 48 February 17
Dmitri Mendeleev
In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev cancelled a planned visit to a factory and stayed at home working on the problem of how to arrange the chemical elements in a systematic way. These documents, still in existence, mark the beginning of the form of the Periodic Table used today. Read more »
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John SinfeltDay 49 February 18
John Sinfelt
John Sinfelt, born 1931: His research allowed refiners to remove lead alkyls from gasoline years before the mandated deadline. Read more »
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Svante August ArrheniusDay 50 February 19
Svante August Arrhenius
Svante Arrhenius was first to speculate that changes in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere could alter surface temperatures through the greenhouse effect. Read more »
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The Chemical RevolutionDay 51 February 20
The Chemical Revolution
In 1773, Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier described a new nomenclature for chemistry which clarified the distinction between elements and compounds. Read more »
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Instant FilmDay 52 February 21
Instant Film
Edwin Land demonstrates Polaroid camera to an Optical Society meeting, 1947, after his daughter asks why she had to wait so long to see her picture. Read more »
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Friedrich WöhlerDay 53 February 22
Friedrich Wöhler
Friedrich Wöhler wrote a letter to J. J. Berzelius stating that he had synthesized urea, making an organic compound from inorganic materials, 1828. Wöhler and colleague Justus von Liebig were friends who helped make organic chemistry a field of systematic study. Read more »
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VitaminsDay 54 February 23
Vitamins
Birthday in 1884 of Polish biochemist Casimir Funk, who realized that certain substances in food were essential to good health, and named tham “vitamines,” with “vita” meaning vitality and “amines” meaning chemical compounds containing nitrogen. Read more »
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Teeth WhitenersDay 55 February 24
Teeth Whiteners
In 1938, DuPont began commercial production of nylon toothbrush bristles for the so-called "Miracle Tuft Toothbrush." Before 1938, the world relied on toothbrush bristles of neck hairs from wildwild boars and hogs. Today, chemists are still developing new materials to keep you smiling. Read more »
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Reinhold Benesch and Ruth Erica BeneschDay 56 February 25
Reinhold Benesch and Ruth Erica Benesch
Reinhold and Ruth Erica Benesch co-discovered how hemoglobin works like an oxygen delivery truck, carrying oxygen molecules to cells that need it. Ruth Erica Benesch was born this day in 1925. Read more »
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Otto WallachDay 57 February 26
Otto Wallach
1931 death of Otto Wallach, who analyzed fragrant essential oils to determine the molecular structure of terpene compounds. Terpenes were of importance in medicine and the perfume industry. Read more »
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Henry Aaron HillDay 58 February 27
Henry Aaron Hill
Black History Month, February the United States and Canada and September in the United Kingdom, celebrates the achievements of individuals like Henry Aaron Hill, the first African-American president of the American Chemical Society. Read more »
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Linus PaulingDay 59 February 28
Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling, born 1901, applied quantum mechanics to the study of molecular structures and chemical bonding. He received the 1954 Nobel Prize for Chemistry and introduced the concept of electronegativity — the ability of an atom to attract electrons to form bonds. Read more »
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Deep-tank FermentationDay 60 March 1
Deep-tank Fermentation
Pfizer opened the world’s first large-scale penicillin facility in 1944, making it possible to mass produce germ-killing medicine. Read more »
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Hot-Air BallooningDay 61 March 2
Hot-Air Ballooning
In 1784, Jean Pierre Blanchard made his first successful ascent in a self-built balloon. The following year, he and American physician Dr. John Jeffries, made the first flight over the English Channel. Read more »
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U.S. National Bureau of StandardsDay 62 March 3
U.S. National Bureau of Standards
National Bureau of Standards, later named the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), created in 1901. Read more »
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New method could revolutionize dating of ancient treasuresDay 63 March 4
New method could revolutionize dating of ancient treasures
Today in 1947, Willard Libby and coworkers developed radiocarbon dating, a method used to determine the age of ancient mummies and fossils. Read more »
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LipstickDay 64 March 5
Lipstick
A variety of waxes, oils, pigments, and emollients in this product have helped people put on a happy faces for years. Read more »
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AspirinDay 65 March 6
Aspirin
In 1899, Felix Hoffman was issued a U.S. patent for Aspirin. He had successfully created a chemically pure and stable form of acetylsalicylic acid in 1897. Aspirin is still used today to fight pain and swelling. Read more »
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Fix-A-FlatDay 66 March 7
Fix-A-Flat
Air-filled tires came in 1888 when John Boyd Dunlop wrapped a rubber tube inflated with air around the wheel rims on his son’s tricycle. Too bad he didn’t have this on hand. Read more »
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Women in the Chemical IndustryDay 67 March 8
Women in the Chemical Industry
International Women’s Day, first observed March 19, 1911 in Germany, is now a day of global celebration of women, including those in the chemical industry. Read more »
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Susan SolomonDay 68 March 9
Susan Solomon
Susan Soloman, who led a team to study a mysterious ''hole'' in the ozone layer over Antarctica, reported her findings to a U.S. House subcommittee in 1987. Read more »
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Molecular GastronomyDay 69 March 10
Molecular Gastronomy
Aaron Lapin received a patent in 1955 for what may have been the first mainline aerosol food product — whipped cream dessert topping in a spray can — as food technology began its march toward the modern era of molecular gastronomy. Read more »
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Early Aluminum ProcessingDay 70 March 11
Early Aluminum Processing
Henri-Étienne Sainte-Claire Deville, born 1818, invented the first industrial process for producing aluminum. In 1854, he built on earlier work of German chemist, Friedrich Woelher, and found a method of preparing aluminum, based on aluminum chloride and sodium. Read more »
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Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)Day 71 March 12
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
The molecule that is the basis for heredity, DNA, contains the patterns for constructing proteins in the body, including the various enzymes. A team of scientists, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins determined its structure. Read more »
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Joseph Priestley: Discoverer of OxygenDay 72 March 13
Joseph Priestley: Discoverer of Oxygen
Joseph Priestley born in 1733 discovered the gas that would later be named oxygen, answering the age-old question, “How do things burn?” Read more »
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Albert EinsteinDay 73 March 14
Albert Einstein
Physicist Albert Einstein, born this day in 1879, made contributions to the development of modern chemistry as well. His explanation of the photoelectric effect became the basis of the quantitative laws of photochemistry, as noted in this 2005 article. Read more »
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MeteoritesDay 74 March 15
Meteorites
In 1806, a 6-kg meteorite carrying carbon-based, organic chemicals was identified for the first time. Studies of meteorites may lead to a better understanding the origin of the solar system. Read more »
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Synthetic Rubber ProductionDay 75 March 16
Synthetic Rubber Production
Synthetic Rubber Program first described in 1928. Export restrictions of natural rubber sparked interest in finding ways to synthesize the material. Read more »
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Sugar ProcessingDay 76 March 17
Sugar Processing
Norbert Rillieux’s strange-sounding invention, the Multiple Effect Evaporator under Vacuum, revolutionized sugar processing, making it safer, cheaper, and more efficient. Read more »
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Gilman HallDay 77 March 18
Gilman Hall
Gilman Hall, chemistry building at the University of California, Berkeley, dedicated in 1918. Research done here has resulted in two Nobel Prizes. Read more »
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Irène Joliot-Curie and Frédéric JoliotDay 78 March 19
Irène Joliot-Curie and Frédéric Joliot
Frédéric Joliot-Curie worked with Marie Curie and married her daughter, Irène Curie. He and Irène did research on the structure of the atom, garnering the pair a Nobel Prize in 1935. Read more »
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Contact LensesDay 79 March 20
Contact Lenses
Bausch & Lomb, incorporated as Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. in 1908, has used materials from Plexiglas to silicone hydrogels to help people make eye contact. Read more »
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Darleane Hoffman and PlutoniumDay 80 March 21
Darleane Hoffman and Plutonium
Plutonium named: In 1942, a secret report was submitted suggesting the name "plutonium" for artificial element 94 since it followed neptunium and uranium (elements 93 & 92). In 1971, Darleane Christian Hoffman discovered small amounts of plutonium in a rock formation. Read more »
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Robert A. MillikanDay 81 March 22
Robert A. Millikan
An experiment performed by Robert Millikan in 1909 determined the size of the charge on an electron. He received the Nobel Prize for his work. Read more »
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Neil Bartlett and Reactive Noble GasesDay 82 March 23
Neil Bartlett and Reactive Noble Gases
Neil Bartlett demonstrates reactive noble gases, 1962. Today, noble gas compounds produce laser beams used in eye surgery and create anti-tumor agents. Read more »
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NMRDay 83 March 24
NMR
Two-dimensional NMR techniques already had advanced the study of protein structures in solutions. In 1988, Richard Ernst’s group published a report in Nature showing how NMR spectroscopy could be used to elucidate structure in three dimensions. Now, studies are underway to increase NMR sensitivity by 100-fold. Read more »
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Ellen H. Swallow RichardsDay 84 March 25
Ellen H. Swallow Richards
March is Women’s History month, honoring women such as Ellen Swallow Richards, American chemist who in 1876 created the Woman's Laboratory at MIT where women could learn the rudiments of science. Read more »
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NanofertilizersDay 85 March 26
Nanofertilizers
Fiesta del Arbol (Tree Festival), Spain. Marks the day in 1895 when King Alfonso planted a pine tree near Madrid. When trees and other plants need a nutrient boost—fertilizers can help. Read more »
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The Sohio Acrylonitrile ProcessDay 86 March 27
The Sohio Acrylonitrile Process
In 1957, researchers developed a single-step way to produce acrylonitrile — a key raw material for many everyday fibers and plastics. Read more »
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Leonor Michaelis and Maud Leonora MentenDay 87 March 28
Leonor Michaelis and Maud Leonora Menten
Wilhelm Friedrich Kühne, born 1837, coined the term enzyme, but it was Leonor Michaelis and Maud Leonora Menten who showed how these complex compounds make possible the chemical reactions of life. Read more »
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Electron Microscopy for ChemistsDay 88 March 29
Electron Microscopy for Chemists
In 1956, Soviet scientists claimed the development of a new form of electron microscope that enabled atoms to be seen for the first time. Today, advances in imaging are allowing chemists to probe materials with extraordinary resolution using transmission electron microscopy. Read more »
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AnesthesiaDay 89 March 30
Anesthesia
Crawford Long first used ether in 1842 to anesthetize a patient to remove a neck tumor, marking the beginning of the use of anesthesia during surgeries. To celebrate this occurrence, this day is now designated as National Doctor's Day. Read more »
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Robert BunsenDay 90 March 31
Robert Bunsen
Robert Bunsen, born 1811, made many contributions to science, but is most widely recognized for a burner he created for use in flame tests. Read more »
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Trick CandlesDay 91 April 1
Trick Candles
A highly reactive metal used in this novelty item will put a spark in April Fools’ Day again and again. Read more »
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Redefining DNADay 92 April 2
Redefining DNA
Francis Crick and James Dewey Watson mailed brief article on the double-helix structure of DNA to Nature in 1953. More recently, scientists have designed of a new type of DNA. Read more »
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RaincoatsDay 93 April 3
Raincoats
This invention, patented more than 180 years ago, insures you’ll be well protected against April showers. Read more »
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Vitamin B6Day 94 April 4
Vitamin B6
Synthesis of vitamin B6 was announced by Merck, Sharp & Dohme in 1939. This vitamin has a wide variety of functions in the body. Read more »
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MorphineDay 95 April 5
Morphine
Marshall Gates and G. Tschudi announced synthesis of morphine in 1956. Considered to be the first true drug, it remains the gold standard for relieving severe pain. Read more »
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The American Chemical SocietyDay 96 April 6
The American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) founded in 1876 in New York City. John W. Draper, a scientist interested in photochemistry, served as first president. Read more »
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Joan BerkowitzDay 97 April 7
Joan Berkowitz
Joan Berkowitz, environmental consultant who tackled everything from preventing water pollution to the best ways to treat industrial waste. Read more »
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The Columbia dry cell batteryDay 98 April 8
The Columbia dry cell battery
In 1886, German scientist, Dr. Carl Gassner, was issued a German patent for the first "dry" cell. The following year, he received a U.S. patent for the dry cell battery, a forerunner to today’s Energizer battery. Read more »
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Bowling BallsDay 99 April 9
Bowling Balls
The U.S. Bowling Congress kicks off its Women's Championship Tournament this month. Polymer science and surface chemistry play an important role in this very popular sport. Read more »
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The Beckman pH MeterDay 100 April 10
The Beckman pH Meter
Arnold Beckman, born 1900, invented the pH meter to help the California citrus industry measure acidity. The device revolutionized scientific instrumentation. Read more »
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Percy JulianDay 101 April 11
Percy Julian
Percy Lavon Julian, born 1899, brought relief to millions with aches and pains caused by rheumatoid arthritis. His synthesis of cortisone made the treatment affordable. Read more »
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Otto Fritz MeyerhofDay 102 April 12
Otto Fritz Meyerhof
Otto Fritz Meyerhof, born 1884, showed that there was a fixed relationship between the consumption of oxygen and the metabolism of lactic acid in the muscle, garnering him a Nobel Prize in 1922. Read more »
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75th Anniversary of the ACS Committee on Professional TrainingDay 103 April 13
75th Anniversary of the ACS Committee on Professional Training
For 75 years, the Committee on Professional Training (CPT) has promoted excellence in postsecondary education and provided leadership to the ACS in the professional training of chemists. Read more »
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Radioisotope Thermoelectric GeneratorsDay 104 April 14
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators
NASA's Nimbus III weather satellite made the first civilian use of nuclear batteries, or “space batteries,” 1969. Officially known as Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), the batteries have provided spacecraft power for many years. Read more »
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HeliumDay 105 April 15
Helium
On this day in 2000, the American Chemical Society designated the discovery of this element within natural gas as a National Historic Chemical Landmark at The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Read more »
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Humphry DavyDay 106 April 16
Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy performed the first physiological experiment on nitrous oxide by inhaling it, 1799. (Don't try this at home!) Read more »
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CheeseDay 107 April 17
Cheese
In 1810, a U.S. patent for pineapple cheese was issued to L.M. Norton of Troy, Pennsylvania. Cheese is one of the oldest processed foods known to mankind, and process cheese products such as Cheez Whiz can add flavor to broccoli or cauliflower. Read more »
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Federation of African Societies of Chemistry (FASC)Day 108 April 18
Federation of African Societies of Chemistry (FASC)
FASC and other African nations and Chemistry Societies played a critical role in obtaining UNESCO and UN support for the declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry (IYC). Read more »
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Road MarkingsDay 109 April 19
Road Markings
Of all the standard driving safety devices—seat belts, air bags, antilock brakes—many of us take these for granted. Read more »
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WhiskyDay 110 April 20
Whisky
Eduard Buchner, born 1860, was awarded the 1907 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for demonstrating that the fermentation of carbohydrates results from the action of different enzymes contained in yeast and not the yeast cell itself. Such complex chemistry is used to develop alcoholic drinks such as this. Read more »
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MarshmallowDay 111 April 21
Marshmallow
Although a year-round treat, spring uniquely promises brightly colored marshmallows shaped like chicks and bunnies. Read more »
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Green ChemistryDay 112 April 22
Green Chemistry
In 1970, the first nationwide Earth Day was celebrated in the U.S. as an environmental awareness event celebrated by millions. Green chemistry promotes the careful design of chemicals manufacturing processes to reduce the use of toxic components and minimize waste and energy use on Earth Day and everyday. Read more »
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LicoriceDay 113 April 23
Licorice
This popular root is used worldwide as a flavor and a medicine. Read more »
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Helen Vaughn MichelDay 114 April 24
Helen Vaughn Michel
In 1997, paleontologists announced the discovery of a trove of fossilized dinosaurs in northeastern China. Using high-tech chemical instruments, Helen Vaughn Michel helped uncover the cause of the mass extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Read more »
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Paul CookDay 115 April 25
Paul Cook
Paul M. Cook, born 1924, created a chemistry lab in his house when he was 12 years old, and went on to develop high-performance materials used to build the electronic infrastructure that serve as the backbone of today's wired world. Read more »
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Rumford Baking PowderDay 116 April 26
Rumford Baking Powder
In 1856, Eben Horsford received a patent for calcium acid phosphate, one of the ingredients in the basic formula still used today for the manufacture of Rumford Baking Powder. Read more »
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Wallace Hume CarothersDay 117 April 27
Wallace Hume Carothers
Wallace Carothers, born 1896, studied the chemistry of giant molecules, leading to production of the first synthetic rubber made in the U.S. and the production of nylon. Read more »
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FirefliesDay 118 April 28
Fireflies
Fireflies get their brilliant glow from a light-emitting pigment called luciferin. Similar substances cause the glow of other so-called bioluminescent or light-producing creatures, including certain fish. Read more »
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Kathleen C. TaylorDay 119 April 29
Kathleen C. Taylor
In 1969, a patent was issued for the catalytic converter, which uses chemical reactions to turn noxious emissions into less harmful gases. Originally invented by Eugene Houdry, chemical engineer Kathleen C. Taylor and others improved the device. Read more »
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J.J. ThomsonDay 120 April 30
J.J. Thomson
Joseph John Thomson announced in 1897 the discovery of a particle lighter than all known elements — the electron. Read more »
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HoneyDay 121 May 1
Honey
Bees rely on enzymes to create the world's first ready-to-eat sweetener. Read more »
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Commercial Processes for Making Calcium Carbide and AcetyleneDay 122 May 2
Commercial Processes for Making Calcium Carbide and Acetylene
In 1892, Canadian Thomas L. Willson accidentally discovered the electric-arc process for preparing calcium carbide. Read more »
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Instant CoffeeDay 123 May 3
Instant Coffee
This ‘instant’ classic was first unveiled at the World's Fair in Buffalo, NY this week in 1901. Read more »
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Alice HamiltonDay 124 May 4
Alice Hamilton
Occupational Safety and Health Professional (OSHP) Day. Alice Hamilton made the American workplace less dangerous by exposing dangerous working conditions in early twentieth-century America. Read more »
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WaterDay 125 May 5
Water
Water, a simple yet under-appreciated substance, is essential for life. It plays a key role the biological processes that occur in the human body as well as the process that plants use to convert sunlight into energy. Read more »
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Sticky NotesDay 126 May 6
Sticky Notes
In 1840, the adhesive postage stamp was first sold in Great Britain. Since then, adhesives have improved greatly, and in 1968 chemists developed these handy little notepapers with an adhesive that allows it to be repositioned with ease. Read more »
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Monocrystalline silicon and microchipsDay 127 May 7
Monocrystalline silicon and microchips
Monocrystalline silicon is one of the most important technological materials of the last decades. It uses include computer chips and high-performance solar cells. Read more »
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Liquid BandagesDay 128 May 8
Liquid Bandages
Mother’s Day: One of the new tools in the medicine kit of Dr. Moms everywhere makes it easier to mend those cuts, scratches, and scrapes. Read more »
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Origins of the Sulfuric Acid IndustryDay 129 May 9
Origins of the Sulfuric Acid Industry
In addition to his work with the properties of gases, Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac contributed to the development of the sulfuric acid industry. Gay-Lussac died on this day in 1850. Read more »
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Sir Edward FranklandDay 130 May 10
Sir Edward Frankland
In 1852, English chemist Sir Edward Frankland presents the concept later known as chemical valence, a theory fundamental to understanding chemical structure. Frankland also was an advocate for clean water. Read more »
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SodiumDay 131 May 11
Sodium
Eleven is the theme for the day, so it’s no surprise that Sodium —atomic number 11 — is everywhere, too. Sodium compounds are among the most frequently used materials for industrial and domestic use, and salt is needed for human life. Read more »
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Roy J. PlunkettDay 132 May 12
Roy J. Plunkett
Death of Roy J. Plunkett, who accidentally discovered Teflon in 1938 when he found that a tank of gaseous tetrafluoroethylene had polymerized to a white powder. During WWII this new polymer was applied as a corrosion-resistant coating to protect metal equipment. Read more »
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Discoveries on Extrasolar PlanetsDay 133 May 13
Discoveries on Extrasolar Planets
On April 21, 1994, astronomer Alexander Wolszczan discovered the first extrasolar planets, or planets located outside the solar system. Since that time, scientists have discovered at least 529 of these planets, which are also called exoplanets and have started to discover the gases that comprise their atmospheres. Read more »
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The Birth of the American Chemical Enterprise at JamestownDay 134 May 14
The Birth of the American Chemical Enterprise at Jamestown
The Birth of the Chemical Enterprise founded in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia as chemical practitioners from Europe settled in early Virginia. Read more »
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PaperDay 135 May 15
Paper
Paper, a mainstay of everyday life from books to store receipts, traces its origins to China and Egypt. Most paper today is made from trees using a wood processing technique called pulping. Read more »
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Quantum Cascade LasersDay 136 May 16
Quantum Cascade Lasers
In 1960, a synthetic ruby crystal laser was first operated at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California. This first operable laser device helped propel studies in physical chemistry. Today, scientists continue making advances with quantum cascade lasers. Read more »
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Pool ChemicalsDay 137 May 17
Pool Chemicals
During pool season a cornucopia of additives keeps pool water sparkling and clean. Read more »
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MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)Day 138 May 18
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Together, NMR and MRI revolutionized the practice of chemistry and medicine by providing fast, non-destructive, and non-invasive means for the observation of matter from the atomic to the macroscopic scale. Read more »
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Max PerutzDay 139 May 19
Max Perutz
Max Perutz, born this date in 1914, received the 1962 Nobel Prize for his studies of the structure of hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues via blood cells. Read more »
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The Noyes LaboratoryDay 140 May 20
The Noyes Laboratory
Chemical sciences in the United States have been immeasurably strengthened by the important and continuing interdisciplinary research conducted by Noyes Laboratory scientists. Read more »
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SandpaperDay 141 May 21
Sandpaper
Spring cleaning is often accompanied by a wealth of do-it-yourself projects using this ubiquitous abrasive. Read more »
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The Fluid Bed ReactorDay 142 May 22
The Fluid Bed Reactor
First fluid bed reactor for gasoline production went on stream in 1942 to meet growing demand for high-octane fuels. Read more »
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Edgar Fahs SmithDay 143 May 23
Edgar Fahs Smith
Born in 1854, Edgar Fahs Smith was regarded as a a pioneer in the study of the history and culture of chemistry in the United States during the early decades of the twentieth century. Read more »
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St. Elmo BradyDay 144 May 24
St. Elmo Brady
In 1916 St. Elmo Brady became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry in the United States. Read more »
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The Houdry ProcessDay 145 May 25
The Houdry Process
Houdry process for gasoline production unveiled in 1937, conserved natural oil by doubling the amount of gasoline produced by other processes. Read more »
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Formation of low-iron alloysDay 146 May 26
Formation of low-iron alloys
In 1857, Robert Mushet received a U.S. patent for an improved method of manufacturing steel to make it more malleable. In 1894, chemists began experiments leading to low-iron alloys that could be dissolved in steel to impart toughness, strength and corrosion resistance. Read more »
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Deciphering the Genetic CodeDay 147 May 27
Deciphering the Genetic Code
Scientists decipher the genetic code in 1961 experiment using Synthetic RNA, showing how messenger RNA transcribes genetic information from DNA. Read more »
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Stephanie Kwolek and KevlarDay 148 May 28
Stephanie Kwolek and Kevlar
An inventor of industrial-strength fibers that today protect and save thousands of lives. Read more »
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SulfonamidesDay 149 May 29
Sulfonamides
In 1951, a patent for improved sulfonamide drugs was issued to James W. Clapp and Richard O. Roblin. Sulfonamides — discovered in 1932 by Gerhard Domagk — were the first chemical substances systematically used to cure bacterial infections in humans. Read more »
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William RamsayDay 150 May 30
William Ramsay
William Ramsay and Morris William Travers discovered krypton in 1898. Krypton is used in certain photographic flash lamps for high-speed photography. Read more »
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Rachel Holloway LloydDay 151 May 31
Rachel Holloway Lloyd
The first American woman to earn a chemistry Ph.D., Lloyd introduced a beet sweetening agent as a sugar substitute. Read more »
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Correction of Debye TheoryDay 152 June 1
Correction of Debye Theory
The sixth-most cited paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, "Electric Moments of Molecules in Liquids," was submitted in 1936, paving the way to a better understanding of polar liquids. Read more »
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Self TannersDay 153 June 2
Self Tanners
These products help people get a jump-start on their summer glow without exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation. Read more »
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Robert WoodwardDay 154 June 3
Robert Woodward
In 1960, Robert B Woodward first synthesized chlorophyll, one of many natural products whose structure he defined, garnering him a Nobel Prize in 1965. Read more »
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Prussian BlueDay 155 June 4
Prussian Blue
Prussian blue was the first major synthetic pigment that created an affordable alternative to the expensive mineral-based pigment, ultramarine. Read more »
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IbuprofenDay 156 June 5
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen, commonly used as an alternative to aspirin, received an environmental make-over of its industrial production process in 1997. Read more »
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Walter G. CampbellDay 157 June 6
Walter G. Campbell
Pure Food and Drug Act signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt, 1906. As time wore on, it became clear that a stronger, more a enforceable law was needed and in 1938 the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was passed. Read more »
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LuminolDay 158 June 7
Luminol
The chemiluminescence of luminol, which produces light rather than heat when it reacts with an oxidizing agent, has become a valuable tool in crime scene investigations. Read more »
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Nuclear Waste Storage and DisposalDay 159 June 8
Nuclear Waste Storage and Disposal
Edwin M. McMillan and Philip Abelson announced discovery of neptunium (Np, 93) in 1940. Today, neptunium's 2.14 million year half-life makes it a challenge for nuclear waste storage and disposal. Read more »
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Liquid Crystal DisplaysDay 160 June 9
Liquid Crystal Displays
Joel E. Goldmacher and Joseph A. Castellano filed a patent application in 1966 for the first room-temperature liquid crystal display. Their work paved the way for today's 100 billion dollar industry in low-power LCDs, found in popular consumer goods such as laptop computers, televisions and cell phones. Read more »
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Ice CreamDay 161 June 10
Ice Cream
What makes ice cream taste so good? Studies on physical chemistry and flavor release have benefited this sweet treat. Read more »
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Lava LampDay 162 June 11
Lava Lamp
Patented in 1968, this groovy lighting fixture is pure liquid motion created by matching the density of two insoluble ingredients. Read more »
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Fritz A. LipmannDay 163 June 12
Fritz A. Lipmann
Fritz A. Lipmann, born in 1899, discovered coenzyme A and described the central role of ATP in metabolism; he received the Nobel Prize in 1953. Read more »
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Nickel BatteriesDay 164 June 13
Nickel Batteries
Rechargeable Ni-Cd and NiMH batteries provide power for cordless phones, cordless power tools rechargeable batteries for consumer electronics and for hybrid cars. Read more »
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Rockefeller UniversityDay 165 June 14
Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University, incorporated in 1901, was among the first to research protein and nucleic acid chemistry. Read more »
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BiodieselDay 166 June 15
Biodiesel
Biodiesel, made from either waste fry oil or vegetable oil, shows excellent commercial promise as an alternative fuel to gasoline and oil. Read more »
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VanadiumDay 167 June 16
Vanadium
Henry E. Roscoe announced the isolation of vanadium in 1867. This transition metal, which helps strengthen steel, was first discovered in Mexico over 200 years ago but was lost in a shipwreck before its identity could be verified. Read more »
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Forensic ScienceDay 168 June 17
Forensic Science
Hiram Maxim received a patent in 1890 for smokeless gunpowder, an innovation leading to the automatic and semi-automatic firearm. At the time, he likely didn’t anticipate that traces of gunpowder could someday be used to link a suspect to a crime by forensic scientists. Read more »
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The Age of PlasticDay 169 June 18
The Age of Plastic
The Age of Plastics dawned in 1907 when Belgian-born chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland made the first plastic. Read more »
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Tagamet®: A medicine that changed people’s livesDay 170 June 19
Tagamet®: A medicine that changed people’s lives
FDA approved Tagamet® — a widely prescribed treatment for ulcers and heartburn — bringing relief to millions. Read more »
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SunscreenDay 171 June 20
Sunscreen
Northern latitudes recognize the June solstice as the start of summer – and sunbathers everywhere slather on this material to prevent sunburn. Read more »
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“I’ll take ‘Chemistry’ for $200, Alex!”Day 172 June 21
“I’ll take ‘Chemistry’ for $200, Alex!”
The game show Jeopardy will celebrate IYC by devoting a category of questions to chemistry on June 21. Spread the word and tune in! Read more »
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The kilogramDay 173 June 22
The kilogram
The first standards for the meter and kilogram were deposited in the National Archives of France in 1799. The kilogram is the only unit in the International System of Units still defined by an artifact rather than a fundamental physical property that can be reproduced in different laboratories. Read more »
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Natureworks Polymers from Renewable FeedstocksDay 174 June 23
Natureworks Polymers from Renewable Feedstocks
The 2002 Presidential Green Chemistry Award winner NatureworksTM polymers are made from plant-based starting materials through an environmentally friendly process. The fibers and packaging can be recycled or composted at the end of their lifetime. Read more »
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Sports DrinksDay 175 June 24
Sports Drinks
Many summer athletes ward off dehydration and carbohydrate loss by chugging these typically brightly-colored beverages. Read more »
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IronDay 176 June 25
Iron
The versatile element, iron, facilitates essential biological functions, provides colors for the artist’s palette, and is abundant on Earth as well as on other planets. Read more »
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James SmithsonDay 177 June 26
James Smithson
Death in 1829 of James Smithson, a fellow of the Royal Society of London, whose bequest founded the Smithsonian Institution. Read more »
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Origins of the Oil IndustryDay 178 June 27
Origins of the Oil Industry
Canadian geologist Abraham Gesner patented the process for obtaining kerosene by distilling bituminous coal in 1854. Gesner was a rather flamboyant character who played a major role in the emergence of energy in the early to mid-19th century. Read more »
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Maria Goeppert-MayerDay 179 June 28
Maria Goeppert-Mayer
Birth in 1906 of Maria Goeppert-Mayer, who developed the shell model of the nucleus and received a Nobel Prize in 1963. Because of anti-nepotism rules – she was married to another professor -- she spent decades teaching university physics as an unpaid volunteer, and did not receive an offer of paid full-time employment until 1959. Read more »
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Rightfit PigmentsDay 180 June 29
Rightfit Pigments
RightfitTM Organic pigments received a Presidential Green Chemistry award in 2004. The 2011 awards will be given this week at the 15th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference. Read more »
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Humphry DavyDay 181 June 30
Humphry Davy
Humphry Davy announced the isolation of the elements barium, calcium, "magnium" (magnesium), and strontium to the Royal Society in 1808. Earlier in his career, he isolated nitrous oxide, naming it "laughing gas" after testing its effects on his friend, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Read more »
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Research on the Atomic Weight of OxygenDay 182 July 1
Research on the Atomic Weight of Oxygen
Edward Morley’s 1895 paper provides way to determine atomic weight, making chemistry less laborious and more precise. Read more »
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Fritz HaberDay 183 July 2
Fritz Haber
Despite the World War I British naval blockade, Germany maintained a constant supply of fertilizers and explosives thanks to the Haber-Bosch process for fixing nitrogen from air, which Fritz Haber presented to the German chemical company BASF in 1909. Read more »
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BromineDay 184 July 3
Bromine
Bromine, an element discovered in 1826 by Antoine-Jerome Balard and found in a dye extracted from Mediterranean snails, produces the vibrant purples and blues favored by the kings and emperors of antiquity. Read more »
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FireworksDay 185 July 4
Fireworks
Bigger, brighter and more colorful every year, fireworks cap off Independence Day celebrations around the country. Read more »
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Robert R. WilliamsDay 186 July 5
Robert R. Williams
Robert R. Williams pressed his wife's washing machine into service as a centrifuge to begin his research on the molecular structure of vitamin B1. Read more »
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AlumDay 187 July 6
Alum
An exceptionally versatile chemical, alum has been especially vital as a mordant in the dyeing industry and in the area of water treatment. Read more »
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Chemistry fights FrictionDay 188 July 7
Chemistry fights Friction
Robert Goddard's patent of the first liquid fuel rocket in 1914 marked the dawn of modern aeronautics. Since then, researchers have developed various materials and lubricants that can hold up in space and on Earth. Read more »
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Space-Dust ScienceDay 189 July 8
Space-Dust Science
Astronomers' understanding of stellar evolution takes a step forward with Jason Cardelli's 1994 publication showing the abundances of the heaviest elements, including thallium and lead, yet detected in interstellar dust. Read more »
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Plug-in Hybrid VehiclesDay 190 July 9
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
On this date in 1919, the Ford Motor Company is reorganized, with the Ford family retaining full control. Today, Ford is one of many automotive companies exploring plug-in hybrids, flex-fuel vehicles and other technologies meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Read more »
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Soap BubblesDay 191 July 10
Soap Bubbles
Blowing bubbles is one way to while away summer's lazy days. Read more »
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The Commercialization of AluminumDay 192 July 11
The Commercialization of Aluminum
The commercialization of aluminum began in 1886 when Charles Martin Hall discovered a way to separate pure aluminum from its ore. Read more »
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Super Glue®Day 193 July 12
Super Glue®
The quick-bonding super-strong adhesive, Super Glue, can support more than a ton of weight, but keep it off your fingers! Read more »
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IodineDay 194 July 13
Iodine
Iodine and its isotopes keep us healthy in a variety of different ways. Read more »
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Chemistry of Wine FlavorDay 195 July 14
Chemistry of Wine Flavor
The French celebrate Bastille Day -- La Fete Nationale -- in commemoration of the 1789 storming of the Bastille, one of the main events in the French Revolution. Wine is strategically paired with many of the foods typically eaten at picnics commemorating this national holiday. Read more »
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The Royal SocietyDay 196 July 15
The Royal Society
King Charles II grants a charter to the Royal Society (UK) in 1662, establishing one of the world's oldest scientific societies. The society officially started in 1660 when a group of 12, including Robert Boyle, met at Gresham College and decided to meet weekly to witness experiments and discuss scientific topics. Read more »
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Glenn SeaborgDay 197 July 16
Glenn Seaborg
On this date the first atomic bomb test took place in 1945 at the Trinity Site, Alamogordo Air Force Base in New Mexico. One of the scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, which developed the bomb, was Glenn Seaborg, a towering figure in 20th century chemistry. Read more »
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PolycarbonateDay 198 July 17
Polycarbonate
High impact resistance and excellent transparency make polycarbonate the material of choice for water bottles, windshields, and eyeglasses. Read more »
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Biobased TonersDay 199 July 18
Biobased Toners
The development of soy-based toners has greatly streamlined the process of recycling paper and has the potential to reduce significantly the environmental footprint of waste paper. Read more »
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Rosalyn YalowDay 200 July 19
Rosalyn Yalow
Birth in 1921 of Rosalyn Yalow, who was awarded the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her description of the radioimmunological assay (RIA) technique and her insights into peptide hormones such as insulin and the diseases resulting from their improper regulation. Read more »
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Chlorine Record Suggests The Moon Was Always DryDay 201 July 20
Chlorine Record Suggests The Moon Was Always Dry
On this day in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took the first steps on the moon and collected soil and rock samples. These samples, along with others from lunar exploration, have been used to study the question of whether the moon is wet or dry. Read more »
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Advances in ChromatographyDay 202 July 21
Advances in Chromatography
Russian botanist M. S. Tswett submitted the first paper on chromatography to the Journal of the German Botanical Society, in 1906. His work laid the foundation for the use of chromatography in countless analytic applications, such as drug discovery and food purity testing. Today, the demands for faster and more efficient chemical separations have guided innovators toward the extremes of particle size, pressure, temperature, and other chromatography parameters. Read more »
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TattoosDay 203 July 22
Tattoos
With summer's hot days comes more bared skin, and more opportunity for people to show off their tattoos. Read more »
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Waterlock (Sodium Polyacrylate)Day 204 July 23
Waterlock (Sodium Polyacrylate)
Sodium polyacrylate, which can hold up to 800 times its weight in water, has found applications from home to Hollywood. Read more »
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Space SuitsDay 205 July 24
Space Suits
Chemistry, art conservation, and space-age materials meet as conservators try to preserve the space suits worn by NASA astronauts. Read more »
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Madder and AlizarinDay 206 July 25
Madder and Alizarin
The laboratory synthesis of alizarin, the vibrant red chemical in madder dye, transformed the dyeing industry and laid important foundations for the future of the chemical industry. Read more »
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Pierre CurieDay 207 July 26
Pierre Curie
A true marriage of scientific minds, Pierre Curie and Maria (Marie) Sklodowska wed on this day in 1895. Pierre and Marie Curie shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903. Read more »
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John DaltonDay 208 July 27
John Dalton
Death of John Dalton (1844) who investigated the physical and chemical properties of matter and deduced an Atomic Theory (1803) whereby atoms of the same element are the same, but different from the atoms of any other element. Read more »
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Bug SprayDay 209 July 28
Bug Spray
Chemistry is key to insecticide formulations. Read more »
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Dorothy Crowfoot HodgkinDay 210 July 29
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin
Death in 1994 of chemist Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, who used x-ray crystallography to identify the structure of insulin, penicillin, and vitamin B12. She received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1964, making her the third woman, following Marie Curie and Irene Joliot-Curie, to win a Nobel Prize in chemistry. Read more »
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TinDay 211 July 30
Tin
A metal of great importance to human civilization, tin is a key component in the alloys bronze and pewter, as well as lending its name to several modern kitchen items. Read more »
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PolyesterDay 212 July 31
Polyester
Polyesters have a diverse set of applications including fibers, fabrics, disposable beverage containers, wood finishes, and films to archive and store paper. Read more »
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Joseph Priestley’s Discovery of OxygenDay 213 August 1
Joseph Priestley’s Discovery of Oxygen
Joseph Priestley's discovery of oxygen, 1774. Today, the American Chemical Society recognizes groundbreaking chemists with the Priestly Medal, the Society’s highest honor. Read more »
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The Production and Distribution of RadioisotopesDay 214 August 2
The Production and Distribution of Radioisotopes
Production and distribution of radioisotopes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory helps advance medicine, industry, and agriculture. Read more »
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Lithium BatteriesDay 215 August 3
Lithium Batteries
Powering our cell phones, iPods, and laptops, lithium-ion batteries make our electronic technology portable. Read more »
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CisplatinDay 216 August 4
Cisplatin
Cisplatin, a drug with the ability to target and kill cancer cells, is a powerful weapon the fight against cancer. Read more »
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River Chemistry in Yosemite National ParkDay 217 August 5
River Chemistry in Yosemite National Park
The pristine environment of Yosemite National Park provides ideal circumstances to study the natural chemistry of a snow-melt fed river and evaluate the impact of human activities on the river downstream. Read more »
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Lead CrystalDay 218 August 6
Lead Crystal
Cut glass objects of lead crystal were developed in response to chemical properties and political factors. Read more »
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Low VOC PaintDay 219 August 7
Low VOC Paint
Award-winning low VOC paints from Sherwin-Williams provide the superior surface of solvent-based paints without all the smell. Read more »
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Hair PermsDay 220 August 8
Hair Perms
Hair stylists apply numerous chemical principles as they create curly or straight hair. Read more »
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BioprospectingDay 221 August 9
Bioprospecting
Bioprospecting in the hot springs at Yellowstone led to one of the most valuable techniques for DNA analysis used in biochemistry and medicine. Read more »
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BariumDay 222 August 10
Barium
Scavenging oxygen during the fabrication of vacuum tubes and aiding medical imaging of the digestive tract are two important applications of the element, barium. Read more »
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Frederick Gardner CottrellDay 223 August 11
Frederick Gardner Cottrell
Patent issued (No. 895.729) in 1908 for Frederick Cottrell’s new method for cleaning up smokestack emissions. The method — called electrostatic precipitation — is still used today to remove pollutants from industrial waste flows. Read more »
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Quality and Stability of Frozen FoodsDay 224 August 12
Quality and Stability of Frozen Foods
The frozen food industry was born in 1930, when Clarence Birdseye found a way to flash-freeze foods. Read more »
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Color Printing InksDay 225 August 13
Color Printing Inks
Inks made from dyes vs. from pigments have different advantages and disadvantages and are ideal for different types of printing jobs. Read more »
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Acrylic Emulsion TechnologyDay 226 August 14
Acrylic Emulsion Technology
Acrylic Emulsion Technology transformed home painting from a smelly, messy ordeal into a cleaner and more user-friendly process. Read more »
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PVCDay 227 August 15
PVC
How is Polyvinylchloride used in a house? Let me count the ways. Read more »
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Selman Waksman and AntibioticsDay 228 August 16
Selman Waksman and Antibiotics
Selman Abraham Waksman co-discovered streptomycin along with Albert Schatz. After the discovery of penicillin, Waksman played a major role in initiating a search for antibiotics among microbes. He died in 1973. Read more »
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Molecules of Life in MeteoritesDay 229 August 17
Molecules of Life in Meteorites
Meteorites can carry amino acids, the building blocks of proteins—of life on Earth. What does the presence of these molecules in meteorites mean? Read more »
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Azidothymidine (AZT)Day 230 August 18
Azidothymidine (AZT)
Although a failure as an anti-cancer drug, AZT has become a front-line defense in managing HIV infections. Read more »
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CopperDay 231 August 19
Copper
The ‘easily recycled metal’, copper has numerous applications including electrical wiring, roofing materials, and for anti-microbial surfaces. Read more »
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Baking SodaDay 232 August 20
Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is a versatile household chemical with applications for every room of the house. Read more »
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Lead White PaintDay 233 August 21
Lead White Paint
An example of a banned substance that is still in use for limited, nonhazardous applications. Read more »
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Cleaning DishesDay 234 August 22
Cleaning Dishes
Although the sink and the dishwasher may be right next to each other in the kitchen, detergents for cleaning dishes are very specific for one method vs. the other. Read more »
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PicklesDay 235 August 23
Pickles
Originally created to can and store excess produce from the garden and provide vegetables in winter, pickles are now a common addition to summer picnics and cookouts. Read more »
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LipstickDay 236 August 24
Lipstick
Throughout history, lipstick has been made from a wide variety of ingredients and spanned the full range of fashion: from ‘not-dressed-without-it’ to scandalous and back. Read more »
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Michael FaradayDay 237 August 25
Michael Faraday
1867 death of Michael Faraday, whose many experiments contributed greatly to the understanding of electromagnetism. He published pioneering papers that led to the practical use of electricity. Read more »
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Silicon ChipDay 238 August 26
Silicon Chip
The invention of integrated circuits to allow rapid fabrication of large arrays of tiny transistors has been the cornerstone of smaller, faster, and more reliable technology. Read more »
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The Development of the Pennsylvania Oil IndustryDay 239 August 27
The Development of the Pennsylvania Oil Industry
Development of the Pennsylvania oil industry started in 1859, when Edwin Drake drilled the world’s first oil well. Read more »
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Feast of the GodsDay 240 August 28
Feast of the Gods
Chemical and instrumental analysis revealed the rich story behind the painting, The Feast of the Gods. Read more »
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FiberglassDay 241 August 29
Fiberglass
An all-season material, fiberglass is used for boat hulls and surfboards as well as for thermal and electrical insulation. Read more »
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NASADay 242 August 30
NASA
Known predominantly for its exploration of space, NASA also leads research efforts to improve our understanding of Earth’s atmosphere. Read more »
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PencilsDay 243 August 31
Pencils
Graphite pencils, an essential back-to-school supply, have an interesting history. Read more »
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Chandler Chemistry LaboratoryDay 244 September 1
Chandler Chemistry Laboratory
Chandler Chemistry Laboratory at Lehigh University, which created the model of modern chemical education, opened in 1884. Read more »
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Air in the Great Smoky MountainsDay 245 September 2
Air in the Great Smoky Mountains
The blue gray mist that lingers over the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is created by both natural and artificial sources. Read more »
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Discovery of PenicillinDay 246 September 3
Discovery of Penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin and its potential uses in 1928, leading to the development of one of the 20th century's greatest lifesavers. Read more »
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CochinealDay 247 September 4
Cochineal
Carmine, a red dye extracted from cochineal insects, is an example of a chemical product created in nature’s laboratory. Read more »
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Jacobus Henricus van’t HoffDay 248 September 5
Jacobus Henricus van’t Hoff
Date of pamphlet in which Jacobus van’t Hoff proposed a tetrahedral structure for carbon, 1874. It was not universally embraced, but in 1901 he received first Nobel Prize in chemistry. Read more »
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ErasersDay 249 September 6
Erasers
A must-have for first day of school, these small bits of molded rubber are handy to have when you need to fix something written in pencil or pen. Read more »
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CrayonsDay 250 September 7
Crayons
The brilliant pigments of crayons allow children of all ages to color their worlds. Read more »
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Scotch® Tape: An Innovation That StuckDay 251 September 8
Scotch® Tape: An Innovation That Stuck
Scotch® Transparent Tape takes hold in 1930, when 3M sent its first roll of cellophane tape to a prospective client. Read more »
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Synthetic GrassDay 252 September 9
Synthetic Grass
When the World Cup for rugby opens in New Zealand, the action will unfold on top of this innovation. Read more »
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The Williams-Miles History of Chemistry CollectionDay 253 September 10
The Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection
Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection, a collection of rare and old chemistry books, opened at Harding University in Searcy, Ark., 1992. Read more »
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Memorial ElementsDay 254 September 11
Memorial Elements
The four basic elements — water, air, earth and fire — provide us a rich tradition for honoring the dead. Read more »
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Fullerenes or BuckyballsDay 255 September 12
Fullerenes or Buckyballs
Scientists announce discovery of fullerenes, or “buckyballs,” the scientific achievement that gave birth to nanotechnology. Read more »
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PhosphorusDay 256 September 13
Phosphorus
Phosphorus plays a crucial role sustaining life, which is why it is crucial to fertilize crops sufficiently, but without adding too much of a good thing. Read more »
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PaperDay 257 September 14
Paper
The back-to-school stack of loose leaf notebook paper on every child’s desk is the product of numerous chemical and engineering processes. Read more »
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Chemical EngineeringDay 258 September 15
Chemical Engineering
In India, Engineers' Day is celebrated on 15 September every year. In the U.S., the field of chemical engineering got its start at MIT in 1888. Read more »
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Albert Szent-GyörgyiDay 259 September 16
Albert Szent-Györgyi
Albert Szent-Györgyi, born 1893, isolated ascorbic acid, the agent in citrus juice that helped combat the deadly disease scurvy. Read more »
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BeerDay 260 September 17
Beer
Oktoberfest Begins in Munich, and the drinks will flow thanks to this brewing process. Read more »
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SeleniumDay 261 September 18
Selenium
The mineral selenium is a micronutrient found in meats and nuts and is an important part of a healthy diet. Read more »
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HelmetsDay 262 September 19
Helmets
Safety helmets for a wide range of conditions have become more effective by exploiting the availability of rugged lightweight plastics. Read more »
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StatinsDay 263 September 20
Statins
The class of cholesterol-reducing medicines called statins directly attack a major factor contributing to heart disease that kills one in four Americans every year. Read more »
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ShampooDay 264 September 21
Shampoo
The ingredients in shampoo are carefully chosen and combined to result in clean, manageable hair. Read more »
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Vitamin DDay 265 September 22
Vitamin D
Unlike other vitamins, we can absorb Vitamin D from our diets or synthesize it directly through exposure to sunlight. Read more »
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Kem-Tone© Wall FinishDay 266 September 23
Kem-Tone© Wall Finish
In 1941, a Kem-Tone® paint, waterborne wall paint was introduced, spurring the expansion of "do-it-yourself" painting. Read more »
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MustardDay 267 September 24
Mustard
From mild to spicy, mustard’s zing depends as much on precise chemistry as on the seed itself. Read more »
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AmberDay 268 September 25
Amber
In 1992, scientists reveal oldest genetic material, a 40-million-year old bee, preserved in this yellow ooze. Read more »
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U.S. Drinking Water Chlorination: A Public Health Giant StepDay 269 September 26
U.S. Drinking Water Chlorination: A Public Health Giant Step
Chlorine, a common component of drinking water and swimming pools, destroys germs and has helped to virtually eliminate waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid that once killed thousands of Americans each year. Read more »
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Silent SpringDay 270 September 27
Silent Spring
Silent Spring, written by Rachel Carson and published on 27 September 1962, is widely credited with helping launch the environmental movement. Read more »
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Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz StrassmannDay 271 September 28
Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann
First meeting of Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn, 1908. Their collaboration led, 30 years later, to the experimental detection and interpretation of fission. Read more »
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TitaniumDay 272 September 29
Titanium
Named for the Titans of Greek mythology, titanium facilitates our society’s mobility whether through artificial joints or through use in airplanes and spacecraft. Read more »
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FrescoesDay 273 September 30
Frescoes
One of the oldest art forms, the fresco, depends on a solid understanding of acid-base chemistry. Read more »
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OpalDay 274 October 1
Opal
This iridescent stone, known in modern times as the birthstone for October, is comprised of water and quartz. Read more »
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TamoxifenDay 275 October 2
Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen used to target estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells is an important step on the path to curing this disease. Read more »
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Mary Engle PenningtonDay 276 October 3
Mary Engle Pennington
Born in 1803, John Gorrie, was granted the first U.S. patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851. Mary Engle Pennington, also born this month in 1872, spent her career studying refrigeration and how best to use it for food preservation. Read more »
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Human HibernationDay 277 October 4
Human Hibernation
On this date in 1957, the Soviet Union launches the first satellite in space, Sputnik I, Today, space exploration takes on a new meaning, as scientists examine ways to send people into space for long periods of time. Read more »
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BaseballsDay 278 October 5
Baseballs
Baseball player Don Larson pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series. To better grip the ball, he likely relied on an ingredient from the Delaware River. Read more »
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Chemicals from Coal FacilityDay 279 October 6
Chemicals from Coal Facility
The Coal Facility in Kingsport, Tennessee — the first U.S. plant to use coal rather than petroleum to produce chemicals for plastics —began operating in 1983. Read more »
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CortisoneDay 280 October 7
Cortisone
Nobel Prize-winning research resulted in the discovery of cortisone, which has eased chronic joint pain for decades. Read more »
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The Microwave OvenDay 281 October 8
The Microwave Oven
Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven, which uses a type of radiation to warm food quickly and efficiently. People now use the device on a daily basis to heat foods ranging from popcorn to frozen dinners. One this day in 1945, the patent application for the microwave cooking process was filed. Read more »
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Emil FischerDay 282 October 9
Emil Fischer
Hermann Emil Fischer, born 1852, discovered a family of bases called purines. Caffeine and theobromine—found in tea, coffee, and chocolate—are two familiar purines. Fischer received a Nobel Prize in 1902. Read more »
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Ernest Orlando LawrenceDay 283 October 10
Ernest Orlando Lawrence
Ernest Orlando Lawrence invented the cyclotron in 1930, paving the way for deep new insights into the innermost nature of matter. Read more »
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BakeliteDay 284 October 11
Bakelite
Bakelite opened the door to the Age of Plastics and seeded the growth of a worldwide industry that today employs more than 60 million people. Read more »
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Paul Hermann MüllerDay 285 October 12
Paul Hermann Müller
Death of Paul Hermann Müller, Swiss chemist and Nobel laureate. His work helped in efforts to control diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Read more »
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The Development of NylonDay 286 October 13
The Development of Nylon
Production of the world's first totally synthetic textile fiber, nylon, began in 1939 when the first nylon plant began operations. Read more »
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Alfred NobelDay 287 October 14
Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel receives the first of 355 patents, a Swedish patent for preparing nitroglycerin, in 1863. He died in 1896, leaving his considerable estate as an endowment for annual awards in chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, literature, and peace. Read more »
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ChocolateDay 288 October 15
Chocolate
A favorite gift for Sweetest Day, this yummy concoction contains around 800 chemical compounds. Read more »
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Chemistry: There’s An App For ThatDay 289 October 16
Chemistry: There’s An App For That
National Chemistry Week, Oct. 16-22: There’s an App for that. Chemists on the go can check the safety of cosmetic ingredients, scroll through millions of chemical structures and molecular formulas, and model liquid chromatography flow rates. Read more »
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The Steroid IndustryDay 290 October 17
The Steroid Industry
During this month in 1951, the first oral contraceptive, the steroid hormone norethindrone, developed by Carl Djerassi and co-workers at Syntex. Read more »
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Pasteurized FoodDay 291 October 18
Pasteurized Food
Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard initiated a test of the idea of pasteurization by heating blood and urine in sealed flasks, 1862. Read more »
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Ozone SolutionsDay 292 October 19
Ozone Solutions
Creative solutions by companies such as Dow Chemical are successfully addressing the issue of ozone depletion. Read more »
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Mt PinatuboDay 293 October 20
Mt Pinatubo
Gases from the 1991 eruption of Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines had a global impact on temperature for several years following the event. Read more »
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CottonDay 294 October 21
Cotton
Scientists and farmers have developed a number of strategies to reduce the need for large quantities of pesticides and fertilizers when growing cotton. Read more »
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Incandescent Light BulbsDay 295 October 22
Incandescent Light Bulbs
October 22nd marks the anniversary of Thomas Edison’s successful test of his prototype for an incandescent light bulb. Read more »
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ToothpasteDay 296 October 23
Toothpaste
It wasn’t until the 1950s that a vigorous tooth brushing campaign was launched to encourage young children to brush twice daily to reduce tooth decay. Read more »
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Vitamin KDay 297 October 24
Vitamin K
Vitamin K plays an essential role in the blood clotting process – another good reason to eat your vegetables. Read more »
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NeonDay 298 October 25
Neon
“Mel’s Diner,” “Lovelace Motel, no vacancies,” and “Blue Moon espresso coffee” Read more »
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Fiber OpticsDay 299 October 26
Fiber Optics
Fiber optics, which transmit pulses of light through tiny, glass fibers, have transformed communication technology. Read more »
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Instant Mashed PotatoesDay 300 October 27
Instant Mashed Potatoes
National Potato Day: Instant mashed potatoes are made possible thanks to this technology, developed in the 1950s. Read more »
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Marie Maynard DalyDay 301 October 28
Marie Maynard Daly
American biochemist Marie Maynard Daly, died 2003, was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry, awarded by Columbia University in 1947. Read more »
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Tide®Day 302 October 29
Tide®
Tide®, the first heavy-duty synthetic detergent, debuted in October 1946 replacing traditional soaps that didn’t clean well in hard water and left a residue of scum. Read more »
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Hair ColoringDay 303 October 30
Hair Coloring
For Halloween tomorrow night, many ghouls and goblins may change their hair color – whether it rinses right out or stays until the hair grows out is a matter of chemistry. Read more »
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LicoriceDay 304 October 31
Licorice
After a long evening of ringing doorbells and parading in costume, some trick-or-treaters may find this sweet treat in their bags. Read more »
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The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM)Day 305 November 1
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM)
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite of instruments on the Mars Science Laboratory’s Curiosity rover is headed to Mars to follow the carbon. Read more »
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Synthetic RubberDay 306 November 2
Synthetic Rubber
Chemical company DuPont begins mass-production of the first commercially available synthetic rubber, Duprene (later named neoprene) in 1932. Because it was difficult and expensive to manufacture, the company turned its attention to developing a synthetic "superpolymer," ultimately leading to the development of nylon. Read more »
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Inhaled VaccinesDay 307 November 3
Inhaled Vaccines
In 1955, Carlton Schwerdt announced the crystallization of poliomyelitis virus-- an essential step in the eventual development of the polio vaccine. Scientists working in vaccine development today have come up with new ways to deliver vaccines, including inhaled powders, microneedle patches, and even bananas. Read more »
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QuinineDay 308 November 4
Quinine
Peruvian Quechua Indians discovered the first effective treatment for malaria. Read more »
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Conservation of PaperDay 309 November 5
Conservation of Paper
Because of natural chemical processes that can attack and degrade paper, librarians and conservationists rely on chemical strategies to preserve our written heritage. Read more »
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Shape Memory AlloysDay 310 November 6
Shape Memory Alloys
Memory metals have the unusual property of returning to their original parent shape upon heating even after extensive bending and deforming. Read more »
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IndigoDay 311 November 7
Indigo
It might come as a great surprise that ‘blue jeans’ are dyed by first submerging denim in a pale yellow solution – but that is the mysterious nature of indigo. Read more »
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Wilhelm RöntgenDay 312 November 8
Wilhelm Röntgen
Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays in 1895. In 1901, he was awarded the first Nobel Prize in physics, for his identification of this new form of energy. Read more »
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In the LimelightDay 313 November 9
In the Limelight
In 1825, Thomas Drummond heated a ball of lime in front of a reflector, creating a brilliant white light. The discovery led to improvements in theater and lighthouse lighting. Read more »
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Gladys L. A. EmersonDay 314 November 10
Gladys L. A. Emerson
Good Nutrition Month: Nutritionist and biochemist Gladys L. A. Emerson, isolated vitamin E in the 1930s. She then went on to work on the whole B complex of vitamins. Read more »
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Body ArmorDay 315 November 11
Body Armor
Scores of U.S. veterans can celebrate Veteran’s Day thanks to high-tech ceramics that provide protection against bullets or other projectiles. Read more »
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Antoine-Laurent LavoisierDay 316 November 12
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier
Antoine Lavoisier described to the French Royal Academy of Sciences in 1783 experiments that show water to be a compound, not an element. Read more »
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Bio-Based Succinic AcidDay 317 November 13
Bio-Based Succinic Acid
Synthesizing succinic acid from bio-based starting materials could provide an important and plentiful petroleum alternative for the manufacture of everything from de-icers to pesticides. Read more »
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BleachDay 318 November 14
Bleach
In addition to its use as a laundry additive, bleach’s antimicrobial activities have seen widespread use in cleaning up houses flooded by hurricanes or tropical storms. Read more »
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Polypropylene and polyethyleneDay 319 November 15
Polypropylene and polyethylene
Polypropylene and high-density polyethylene plastics — the plastic that made the Hula Hoop® possible — discovered in 1955. Read more »
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Vitamin ADay 320 November 16
Vitamin A
Vital for healthy eyes, Vitamin A is luckily found in plenty of food sources including animal protein, dairy products, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Read more »
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PlatinumDay 321 November 17
Platinum
Platinum: the metal and the metaphor are associated with high privilege and outstanding performance. Read more »
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ModelingDay 322 November 18
Modeling
Chemists use models to envision molecules, to explore complex systems and to predict chemical reactions. Read more »
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Photoionization DetectorsDay 323 November 19
Photoionization Detectors
Photoionization detectors are light, portable instruments that are invaluable for assessing potential chemical hazards onsite. Read more »
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RadiopharmaceuticalsDay 324 November 20
Radiopharmaceuticals
Small quantities of radioactive pharmaceuticals minimize risk while creating invaluable opportunities for physicians to image and evaluate the body without surgery. Read more »
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Fire ExtinguishersDay 325 November 21
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers, which are effective at controlling small fires, work by removing the oxygen needed to maintain the combustion process. Read more »
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Paul C. ZamecnikDay 326 November 22
Paul C. Zamecnik
Paul Zamecnik (1912 - 2009) was the discoverer of cell-free protein synthesis systems, transfer RNA and the antisense principle. Nov 22, 2011 would have been his 99th birthday. Read more »
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Henry Gwyn Jeffreys MoseleyDay 327 November 23
Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley
Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley, born on this day in 1887, organized the modern Periodic Table of the Elements on the basis of atomic number, or proton number, which uniquely identifies a chemical element and helps predict the properties and reactivity of the elements. Read more »
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TryptophanDay 328 November 24
Tryptophan
Although the amino acid, tryptophan, is especially associated with turkey, it is actually present in many every-day foods including poultry, eggs, cheese, meat, and fish. Read more »
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ChalkDay 329 November 25
Chalk
Probably no one misses the task of clapping together elementary school erasers to clean them, but chalk is still essential to many sports and art endeavors. Read more »
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NiobiumDay 330 November 26
Niobium
Charles Hatchett announced discovery of columbium (niobium, Nb, element 41) before the Royal Society, 1801. Niobium is used in jet engines and rockets. Read more »
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CiderDay 331 November 27
Cider
Hard or sweet, apple cider is the iconic beverage of the season. Read more »
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AdhesivesDay 332 November 28
Adhesives
Adhesives bind our wounds, repair our mistakes, and help attach that gold star to a job well done. Read more »
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MagnesiumDay 333 November 29
Magnesium
Metallic magnesium finds applications in lightweight alloys and in high-temperature combustion reactions. Not to be confused, magnesium ions play important roles in hundreds of biological enzymes. Read more »
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Clot Busters and Blood ThinnersDay 334 November 30
Clot Busters and Blood Thinners
Following a heart attack or stroke, clot busters are powerful emergency medications that break up blood clots. Blood thinners prevent the formation of future problematic blood clots. Read more »
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MauveDay 335 December 1
Mauve
Mauve was one of the first dyes derived from a synthetic process rather than from natural materials and its availability prompted a fad for purple in Europe in the 1850s. Read more »
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ClovesDay 336 December 2
Cloves
Cloves are a potent spice used in different cuisines from around the world. Read more »
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Vitamin CDay 337 December 3
Vitamin C
Vitamin C not only plays an important role in good health, it has been a significant factor in the historic exploration of our world. Read more »
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Paper from Pine: A New Chapter in PapermakingDay 338 December 4
Paper from Pine: A New Chapter in Papermaking
Charles Holmes Herty, born 1867, found a way to make paper from pine trees, creating badly needed jobs in the South and savings millions of Northern trees. Read more »
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Gerty Theresa Cori and Carl Ferdinand CoriDay 339 December 5
Gerty Theresa Cori and Carl Ferdinand Cori
Husband and wife team Gerty Theresa Cori and Carl Ferdinand Cori identified the process that muscle cells use to make and store energy — a finding that has helped in treating diabetes. Read more »
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Paint BindersDay 340 December 6
Paint Binders
The different classifications of paint such as oils, acrylics, and latex refer to the ‘binder,’ the component that sticks the colors to the wall or to a canvas and protects the finished product from damage. Read more »
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BrassDay 341 December 7
Brass
Whether ringing in the holidays, gracing a winter evening with a chandelier of lights, or simply opening a door, brass lends a glowing touch. Read more »
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WoolDay 342 December 8
Wool
In addition to wool’s outstanding performance as a cold weather fabric, its fire resistant properties make it a desirable material for carpets and upholstery. Read more »
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MolybdenumDay 343 December 9
Molybdenum
The 42nd annual Christmas Chemistry Lecture given by Professor Bassam Shakashiri on December 10th and 11th celebrates the chemistry of element #42, molybdenum. Read more »
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Hermann StaudingerDay 344 December 10
Hermann Staudinger
Hermann Staudinger, won Nobel Prize in Chemistry for polymer science work, 1953. His research helped spur the development of polymer science in industry. Read more »
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Alpha Chi SigmaDay 345 December 11
Alpha Chi Sigma
In 1902, a group of students formed Alpha Chi Sigma, the only national professional fraternity specializing in chemistry. The organization now has a membership of more than 63,000 men and women. Read more »
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RosinDay 346 December 12
Rosin
Generations of aspiring ballerinas have gotten their start by dancing in December productions of The Nutcracker. For their leaps, turns, and pirouettes, dancers rely on rosin to secure safe landing. Read more »
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BreadDay 347 December 13
Bread
In the cold of winter, bread with its complex chemistry, is at once a daily staple, holiday treat, and a symbol of life itself. Read more »
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MascaraDay 348 December 14
Mascara
Chemistry has helped cosmetics evolve from concoctions of messy, toxic ingredients to today’s formulations that yield smooth, easy, and long-lasting applications of color to adorn the eyes. Read more »
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Allene Rosalind JeanesDay 349 December 15
Allene Rosalind Jeanes
Listed among the ingredients of foods such as salad dressing, ice cream and canned soup is a substance called xanthan gum. This groundbreaking product and a process for producing it was discovered in the 1950s by chemist Allene Rosalind Jeanes, who died this day in 1995. Read more »
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SilverDay 350 December 16
Silver
Used for money, jewelry, tableware and making mirrors, the lustrous white metal silver is also a common feature of holiday decorations. Read more »
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PorcelainDay 351 December 17
Porcelain
Whether arranging flowers in a decorative vase, setting a table for a holiday celebration, or indulging in a relaxing cup of tea, porcelain is often a part of special events or everyday pleasures. Read more »
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Frankincense And MyrrhDay 352 December 18
Frankincense And Myrrh
Frankincense And Myrrh, aromatic resins formed from the sap of trees, may have medicinal properties. Read more »
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Supercritical fluidsDay 353 December 19
Supercritical fluids
Thomas Andrews, born 1813, demonstrated the continuity of the gaseous and liquid states showing that during changes between the two states, physical properties display no abrupt changes. Read more »
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CandlesDay 354 December 20
Candles
At the darkest time of the year, candles are an important symbol of hope and life in this month’s Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, Christian celebration of Christmas, and in the celebration of Kwanzaa. Read more »
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Hand WarmersDay 355 December 21
Hand Warmers
First Day of Winter –a pair of these will keep your hand warm via an exothermic reaction that, in essence, creates rust. Read more »
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TinselDay 356 December 22
Tinsel
Silver was the original material used to make tinsel, the metallic ribbons that decorate Christmas trees. Read more »
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Paul B. WeiszDay 357 December 23
Paul B. Weisz
Swedish chemist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, born 1722, discovered zeolite. Today, natural and synthetic zeolites are used as catalysts to boost the amount of gasoline obtainable from petroleum, thanks to pioneering work of another chemist, Paul B. Weisz. Read more »
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Radiation Chemistry CommercializedDay 358 December 24
Radiation Chemistry Commercialized
Radiation chemistry, which uses high energy electrons to alter the structure of polymers, goes commercial Dec 24, 1957. Read more »
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Scent of MemoryDay 359 December 25
Scent of Memory
Christmas present is made all the sweeter to mind and heart as our sense of smell helps us recall and savor memories of Christmas past. Read more »
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PeppermintDay 360 December 26
Peppermint
The pungent flavor of candy canes, peppermint is also favored for ice cream, toothpaste, and tea. Read more »
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GlassDay 361 December 27
Glass
In spite of its tendency to break when handled roughly, optical transparency and thermal properties make glass ideal for items ranging from drinking vessels and laboratory containers to works of art. Read more »
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Chewing GumDay 362 December 28
Chewing Gum
The first patent for this chewy treat was awarded today in 1869, though the ancient Greeks had discovered their own version. Read more »
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PerfumeDay 363 December 29
Perfume
Often a finishing touch on primping for a party, perfumes are complex combinations of natural and synthetic chemicals. Read more »
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PhotographyDay 364 December 30
Photography
Photography is a powerful means of capturing memories through pictures and of connecting with friends and relatives separated by distance or time. Read more »
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ChampagneDay 365 December 31
Champagne
Toasting in the New Year: champagne and all other sparkling wines must conform to just one law, Henry's Law. Read more »
Announcements:
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