Today (22 September) marks the birthday of Michael Faraday, a chemist and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of electrochemistry. He’s responsible for popularising many of the terms we use in electrochemistry today, such as anode and cathode, as well as his eponymous laws of electrolysis.
Did you know that the wasabi in most supermarkets and restaurants isn’t wasabi? Or that a chemical synergy between dried seaweed and raw fish enhances the savoury flavour of sushi? This infographic was a request from my sushi-mad seven-year-old son and looks at a range of sushi science, from the sticky rice to the pungent pickled ginger.
Caterpillars munching on your cabbages? You’re witnessing interspecies chemical warfare in action! In this edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN, we take a look at how plants defend themselves from caterpillars—and how some caterpillars fight back. View the full graphic on the C&EN site.
The Men’s football World Cup final is taking place this weekend. While it sadly won’t be coming home, one team will take home the coveted World Cup – or, at least, a copy of it. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN, we take a look at the materials that make up the two separate trophies that have been awarded to the World Cup winners. See the full graphic on the C&EN site.
If you’ve been enjoying the tennis at Wimbledon over the past two weeks, chemistry probably didn’t cross your mind as you watched the players slogging the ball back and forth. However, a lot of science and honed materials go into both the rackets and balls used during each game, set and match. This graphic examines the key substances used and how they’ve changed over time.
The 2026 World Cup is up and running, but not without its share of controversy. It’s setting a number of unwelcome firsts: the first time a World Cup referee has been barred from a host nation, and the first time a host nation is at war with one of the participating countries. However, some slightly more welcome firsts come in the shape of the materials science behind the World Cup ball, the Trionda.
