Reactions

Chocolate chip cookies are nearly universally adored. People like them in all sorts of textures, sizes and tastes. So how can you make your perfect cookie? Using science, of course. October 1 is National Homemade Cookies Day, so for this week’s Reactions episode, we partnered with Science News magazine’s Bethany Brookshire (@scicurious) to take a bite out of baking with the scientific method.

If there is one thing everyone on Earth has in common, it's that we all absolutely stink. Luckily we have deodorants and antiperspirants to help us get over that fact, but chemically speaking, how do these products actually work? This week on reactions, we're taking a look at body odors, and how we drape a tarp over them with chemistry.

It’s a sinister condition that affects millions of Americans: addiction. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, food or gambling, it can ruin lives. In support of National Recovery Month, which calls attention to substance abuse issues and treatment services, Reactions takes a look at the chemistry behind addiction. If you or someone you know wants to get help, go to http://recoverymonth.gov to find resources.

Football is back, and with all the hard hits and tough tackles come renewed concerns about safety. Every NFL player is required to wear a helmet, but the helmets of today are a far cry from the leather creations from decades ago. To kick off this football season, Reactions looks at everything that goes into a football helmet and how chemistry helps keep players safe.

It’s the most important meal of the day. Or is it? Breakfast has been the topic of much debate. For years, we were told to eat a complete breakfast. But what does that even mean? Should a complete breakfast include eggs, or should you avoid them altogether? Does any of this apply to brunch?

You’re tired and you need an energy boost, but you don’t want the jitters from caffeine. What to do? In this week's video, we give you some chemistry-backed tips — one of which involves cats — to boost your productivity and stay awake without refilling the coffee cup.

Almost all of us have used some type of odor eliminator like Febreze to un-stink a room. These sprays can work wonders, but how do they actually work? Do they really remove the smell or just mask it?

Some of you folks out there know first hand that a cup of coffee almost immediately means a trip to the bathroom. But what's inside a cup of coffee that makes you have to go #2? Today on Reactions, we bring you the answer - to the best of our scientific knowledge. For more gross science, check out a channel called, what else, Gross Science! http://youtube.com/grossscienceshow

Tell 'em Reactions sent ya.

The Thing, Human Torch, Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic are back this summer! In the new reboot, the team gets its powers while in an alternate dimension. Here at Reactions, though, we stick to comic book canon. In this week’s video, we explain the original way the Fantastic Four got their power – radiation – with help from SciPop Talks.

If you don’t have a tattoo, you probably at least know someone who does — but what’s the chemistry behind tattoos? In this Reactions video we explore what tattoo ink is made of, why this body art is permanent (whether you like it or not) and other cool facts. For more information on tattoos, check out Claudia Aguirre's article: www.doctorclaudia.com/tattoos-and-skin-h­ealth.