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  Whose Air Is It Anyway?

  The atmosphere was the first to go global, baby! Do you know where your air has been?

  Issue Date | October 2003

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  Activity | Green Energy—lt's Your Decision

  How do you select the right energy source for a lab? Here's your chance to think like a green chemist.

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  ChemHistory | Chemistry of the Lightbulb—Still a Bright ldea

  Around for so long, lightbulbs look ordinary and simple. But do you really know how they work? We'll give you a chance to enlighten yourself before explaining a little of the science behind this remarkable invention.

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  ChemSumer | Edible Wraps—Safe, Strong, and Delicious

  Food chemists are about to give you another lunch-packing decision—the flavor of the wrapper! These plastic-like edible wraps will not only keep the food fresh but also improve nutrition and taste.

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  Green Chemistry—Stopping Pollution Before It Starts

  Can we have our products without hurting the environment? It sounds too good to be true, but chemists and manufacturers are finding that with a little planning, many items can be "benign by design".

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  Question From the Classroom | How Do Lasers Work, and What Is So Special About Laser Light?

  The light source featured in sc-fi space battles also operates in much of our down-to-earth electronic gear. Find out what makes it special.

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  Student Chemist Gets Plants To Do the Dirty Work

  When soil is contaminated with heavy metals, cleanup is critical. But hold the bulldozers! One student hopes to show that plants can do the dirty work, causing fewer problems in the process.

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  Use Your Chemagination

  Can you "chemagine" what ChemMatters will look like 25 years in the future? These contest winners took up the challenge and delivered articles on everything from guilt-free chocolate to self-healing sports equipment.

  Issue Date | April 2003

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  ChemHistory | The Explosive History of Nitrogen

  Nitrogen acts like the Clark Kent of chemical elements. Sometimes a mild-mannered fertilizer ingredient, it
  becomes the key ingredient in super explosives.

  Issue Date | February 2003

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  ChemSumer | Extracting Medicine From Plants

  Sold as herbal supplements, many of these over-the-counter products are advertised as cures. Should the manufacturers be required to prove their claims?

  Issue Date | February 2003