Last update:

Why doesn't water help with spicy food? What about milk or beer?

Spicy foods taste spicy because they contain a family of compounds called capsaicinoids. Capsaicin is the major culprit. It's found in chilies, jalapeños, cayenne pepper, and is even the active ingredient in pepper spray.

Many old books contain toxic chemicals—here's how to spot them

In our modern society, we rarely consider books to be dangerous items. However, certain books contain elements so hazardous that they require scrutiny before being placed on the shelves of public libraries, bookstores or ...

Exploring the chemistry behind love this Valentine's Day

Chemistry in a relationship refers to the intense feelings of connection, passion, and romance that people share. This Valentine's Day, Dr. Alex Baker, a chemistry professor at the University of Warwick, explores the real ...

More news

Materials Science
What is micellar water and how does it work?
Other
Video: Can science beat counterfeit detector pens?
Other
Helium is essential for research, medical equipment, but it's nonrenewable and difficult to recycle
Analytical Chemistry
New crystalline sponge method proposed for undergraduate courses
Other
Nonalcoholic beer: New techniques craft flavorful brews without the buzz
Other
Thank gluten's complex chemistry for your light, fluffy baked goods
Analytical Chemistry
How is decaf coffee made? And is it really caffeine-free?
Analytical Chemistry
Study shows forensic evidence can survive underwater for weeks
Materials Science
Trio wins Nobel Prize in chemistry for work on quantum dots, used in electronics and medical imaging
Other
Swedish media report that the winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry may have been announced early
Other
Nobel chemistry winner flunked first college chemistry exam
Other
Video: Why you can't recycle your pants—until now
Other
Why does my hair turn green from the swimming pool?
Other
Video: How is ceviche 'cooked?'
Other
The bubbly chemistry behind carbonated beverages
Other
Why does your hair curl in the summer? A chemist explains the science behind hair structure
Materials Science
Researchers create 3D-printed vegan seafood
Other
Study: Infant formula safety checks can be improved with stratified sampling
Analytical Chemistry
Chemists need to consider the effects of chemistry beyond the lab to combat environmental crises, say researchers
Analytical Chemistry
How does ice cream work? A chemist explains why you can't just freeze cream and expect results

Other news

Molecular & Computational biology
New computational tool helps interpret AI models in genomics
Superconductivity
High-temperature superconductivity: Exploring quadratic electron-phonon coupling
Earth Sciences
Groundbreaking discovery: How researchers found remnants of Earth's primordial crust near Perth
Astronomy
Galaxy NGC 4696 hosts a complex globular cluster system, observations find
Optics & Photonics
New photonic chip spawns nested topological frequency comb
Cell & Microbiology
Scientists discover surprising link between ancient biology and restricted human hair growth
Cell & Microbiology
New insights into how cell shape influences protein transport rates
Condensed Matter
An alternative way to manipulate quantum states
Analytical Chemistry
Spectroscopic technique that singles out water molecules lying on the surface reveals how they relax after being excited
Biotechnology
Wild yeasts from Patagonia could yield new flavors of lagers: Genetic mutations enhance alcohol production
Plants & Animals
Wild chimpanzees seek out medicinal plants to treat illness and injuries, study finds
Plants & Animals
Hurricane changed 'rules of the game' in monkey society
Earth Sciences
Study finds plants store carbon for shorter periods than thought
Social Sciences
Behavioral and computational study shows that social preferences can be inferred from decision speed alone
Optics & Photonics
Turning infrared light visible: New device uses 2D material to up-convert infrared light
Astronomy
Striking new Webb image showing alignment of bipolar jets confirms star formation theories
Social Sciences
Family conditions may have more of an impact on upward social mobility than gender inequality
Astronomy
Too young to be so cool: Lessons from three neutron stars
Plants & Animals
Insecticides contribute to drop in butterfly species across US MidWest: Study
Optics & Photonics
Q&A: New method confines light inside an organic material to form a hybrid quantum state