This week, Reactions takes on New York City’s bagel supremacy. Many agree that the Big Apple has the best bagels in the world, but many also disagree on why. Some say it’s the tap water, others say it’s the dough, and a few say it’s purely attitude. We dive into the chemistry of these tasty breakfast treats with the help of a top chef.

More than 25 million people rely on Adderall™ and other similar drugs to help treat narcolepsy, depression and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But how does amphetamine, the active ingredient in Adderall™, work? This week, Reactions explains how amphetamine helps you focus.

Whether they’re in a big bowl of guacamole or scooped on top of your salad, avocados enjoy a special place in our hearts and stomachs. On top of being tasty, avocados are a noted superfood with a number of fantastic health benefits. This week, Reactions has mashed up some fantastic avocado facts, as well as some cooking tips from the pros.

Science fans, assemble! The world’s top superhero team is back to save the world in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” And these superheroes use some super science to help them keep the bad guys in check. This week, Reactions looks at the chemistry of the Avengers, including Tony Stark’s suit, Captain America’s shield and Black Widow’s super-fast healing. For more on Superhero science, check out Jim Kakalios' book, The Physics of Superheros: http://amzn.to/1dobcl4.

April 22, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in modern warfare. Some of the best minds in chemistry at that time, including a Nobel Prize winner, used their knowledge of science to build humanity’s new weapons of mass destruction. This week, we take a sobering look at the chemistry behind the modern world’s first chemical weapons. Check out all of Chemical and Engineering News’ fantastic coverage of the anniversary here: http://chemicalweapons.cenmag.org.

Ever run out of your go-to cleaning product and you’ve got a mess that you just can’t leave alone? Have no fear, chemistry is here. Our latest Chemistry Life Hacks video explains how to make your own glass cleaner, keep red wine from staining your carpet and why spit, yes spit, can also be a great cleaning product.

Since ancient Greek times, philosophers and scientists have tried to figure out what an atom looks like. For a couple thousand years, humans could only speculate on the structure and other properties of the smallest unit of matter. It wasn't until the 1980s that chemists could see individual atoms. Bestselling author Sam Kean takes us through the nearly 2,400-year quest to see the atom in a new episode of our "Legends of Chemistry" series.

The fantasy epic Game of Thrones is back this Sunday night, and it is sure to be chock full of intrigue, indiscretions and, of course, swords. The most sought-after blades in Westeros are made from Valyrian steel, forged using ancient magic. But could you make your own Valyrian steel sword using real-life chemistry? Reactions collaborated with cosplaying chemistry fanatic and material scientist Ryan Consell to see if we could blend metallurgy with Westerosi magic.

It’s supposed to help keep your body healthy in stressful situations. But the constant stress of our everyday lives means we’re getting overexposed to cortisol. Raychelle Burks, Ph.D. explains why too much cortisol is bad for you in the latest episode of the Reactions series "Get To Know A Molecule". Special thanks to CAS for supporting this episode. For more information visit http://www.cas.org. For more information on the SciFinder Future Leaders program, visit http://cas.org/futureleaders.

Last year, Reactions shook up the comedy world with a video featuring nothing but chemistry jokes. After overwhelming public acclaim, we’re back for this April Fools’ Day with round two, featuring a number of fan submissions. Be sure to leave your chemistry jokes in the comments, and you might be featured in our next compilation!