Reactions

Peanut allergies or of some of the most dangerous food allergies out there due to how commonly they are found in the food industry. For the past couple decades, peanut allergies have been on the rise in the United States, and scientists recently may have found out the reason why.

You’re sitting in your favorite restaurant when a waiter walks by with a hot plate of your favorite food, and your mouth starts to water. But why? What causes drooling in the first place, and why do we only sometimes salivate? This week, 2015 ACS Chemistry Champions contest winner Hadi Fares explains the chemical mechanisms behind dinnertime drooling.

Thanks to chemistry, the products we use to clean and style our hair have evolved over decades — even centuries. How do hairsprays protect your hair while keeping it flexible and light? How do shampoos work, and why are some people choosing to dump the lather altogether? This week, “Ms. Beautyphile” Trina Espinoza and Lex Fleming from “Made U Look” join us in the New York City YouTube Space to explain the science behind hair care.

Thanks to chemistry, the products we use to clean and style our hair have evolved over decades — even centuries. How do hairsprays protect your hair while keeping it flexible and light? How do shampoos work, and why are some people choosing to dump the lather altogether? This week, “Ms. Beautyphile” Trina Espinoza and Lex Fleming from “Made U Look” join us in the New York City YouTube Space to explain the science behind hair care.

Thanks to chemistry, the products we use to clean and style our hair have evolved over decades — even centuries. How do hairsprays protect your hair while keeping it flexible and light? How do shampoos work, and why are some people choosing to dump the lather altogether? This week, “Ms. Beautyphile” Trina Espinoza and Lex Fleming from “Made U Look” join us in the New York City YouTube Space to explain the science behind hair care.

There are some things you wouldn't wish upon even your worst enemy. Stepping on Legos being no such exception. The mind bending pain of a bare foot pressing down on a Lego is one of the worst known to humanity, but how does something so innocent looking create such an intense feeling? We're talking nociception today folks, and the chemistry of how these little two gram blocks pack enough punch to send you into orbit.

To fire up the grill or the gas stove, we often reach for a match. The best way to find out about the chemistry of burning matches is to watch it in ultra-slow motion.

Ninety-nine percent of adults who wear contacts admit to breaking some cardinal lens rules: sleeping in them, washing them in water and so on. Many contact-wearers may brush off these accidents, but improper lens care can have gross — and sometimes serious —consequences. This week, Reactions collaborates with Anna Rothschild from Gross Science to explain why contacts can cause problems and how to prevent them.

Diseases from mosquito bites kill hundreds of thousands of people every year. Now the Zika virus has spread throughout Brazil, and the World Health Organization has declared Zika a public health emergency.

Alright folks, settle down. The Superbowl is just around the corner, we're excited too, but let's stay focused here. It's all about the snacks, so today we're slamming you with some next level DIY chemistry advice to help you step up your nacho game. The secret ingredient? A little thing called sodium citrate. My advice to you is to order some now, watch the video, and get ready for the Super Bowl of a lifetime.