Go to https://squarespace.com/amateurchemistry and use the code AMATEURCHEMISTRY to save 10% on your first website or domain purchase. In this video, I use deadly fork-derived chromium trioxide to convert vodka (ethanol) into vinegar (acetic acid) through the Jones oxidation reaction while accident
Nail polish hardeners that work with UV radiation are used in many nail salons. They are also available for use at home. But the UV-A radiation used is basically carcinogenic. We were asked how harmful the devices can be to the skin: In the video, we explain how UV-A radiation works, what to conside
When something like the herbicide Glyphosate (Roundup) is labeled "probably causes cancer", what does this mean? This question was prompted by Grist, who asked us: "Hey Risk Bites guy, the WHO just said that the herbicide in Roundup probably causes cancer -- what's the deal with that? It seems lik
Is using a cell phone harmful to your health? In the first of a two-parter, Risk Bites looks at the chances of your cell phone giving you brain cancer (spoiler alert: not a lot). Next time -- the more worrisome risk of your phone placing you in a life or death situation. Note: The video refers t
In the atmosphere, at an altitude of about 20 to 30 kilometers, the ozone layer protects us from carcinogenic UV rays. But on earth, on the ground, ozone is a problem. Here, the colorless and toxic gas harms people and the environment. More about ozone: http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/ozon Transla
At about 3.5 billion years old, bacteria are one of the oldest living organisms on earth. They are responsible for a range of diseases including cholera, tuberculosis and the plague amongst many others. But they aren’t all bad; there are trillions of good bacteria living in your gut that are essen
A California judge is requiring cancer warning labels on coffee. So we thought we’d take look at some of the other highly improbable risks associated with your cup of joe. We love a good cup of coffee at Risk Bites. So we were rather dismayed to discover that California judge William le Jeunesse ha
Around one million people use tanning beds each year in the US. Yet the ultraviolet (UV) light they use causes skin cancer. The risk is so high that a recent article from researchers at the University of Michigan called for an immediate ban on the use of commercial indoor tanning by minors, and th
How worried should you be if 1,4-dioxane gets into your drinking water? 1,4-dioxane is an industrial chemical used as a solvent and a stabilizer -- and in areas where there's environmental contamination, safety is an important question, especially as the substance is a probable human carcinogen. T
