۲ݮƵ

Subscribe to the OSS Weekly Newsletter!

Dimethicone Copolyol in Mascara?

22 May 2017

On hot, humid summer days many women rely on waterproof mascara to keep their lashes soft and smooth.  The main chemical responsible for smoothing the lashes is a type of silicone polymer known as...

The Dark Side of the Moon

13 May 2017

While it makes for a great album title, the dark side of the moon is simply a myth. As the moon rotates around the Earth, and the Earth around the sun, the moon is exposed to the sun’s light just...

Is It Really Dangerous to Use Your Phone on a Plane?

11 May 2017

The fear behind the rule of ‘no phones on planes’ is that portable electronic devices could potentially interfere via electromagnetic radiation with the measurement and navigation tools on board....

Do dead batteries really bounce?

10 May 2017

You’ve probably heard of the bounce test for dead batteries- simply drop a battery, and if it bounces, it’s dead. It turns out that this isn’t completely true. Conventional batteries have an outer...

Bourgeonal Odour

10 May 2017

Bourgeonal is an aromatic aldehyde used in perfumery with a fragrance resembling that of the Lily of the Valley.  What’s so special about this fragrance? It is secreted by the ovum within the...

Sperm whale perfume

10 May 2017

Sperm whales produce a black, smelly substance called ambergris which changes to a pleasant smell when exposed to air. It is rare and expensive but is used as a base in some perfumes. Ambergris...

Should I Be Worried About My Earphones?

9 May 2017

Such warnings have become ubiquitous as a result of California’s Proposition 65, a well-intentioned law that has gone haywire and has caused undue anxiety among consumers. The intent was to protect...

The Dirt on Laundry Balls

27 Apr 2017

As you can imagine, the ad caught my eye.  “Earth Smart Laundry CD works on the principles of quantum physics, not chemistry.” I had to have it. So I sent in my sixty dollars and waited. A couple...

Frankenstein’s Chemical Roots

20 Apr 2017

"I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet."  With these words Victor Frankenstein began his account of the...

Pages

Back to top