Category Archives: Current Events

Salting the Roads – More Complicated Than It Sounds

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

I grew up in a HOT climate (below), where we didn’t have to deal with the kind of weather that we have right now in most of the country. Back home, occasional road signs near overpasses nonchalantly suggest that “Ice … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemicals Among Us, Chemistry, Current Events | 1 Comment

Update: ACC’s Position on Formaldehyde

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has issued a statement about the formaldehyde/methylene glycol “controversy”.  You can read a summary of the statement here, and the full statement here.  Here’s a couple of key quotes:

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I Can Has Science Hair Straightener?

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

My apologies, I really do not want to turn this into a Brazilian Blowout Blog.  However, I am super swamped this week and am writing on borrowed time, and Brazilian Blowout keeps falling into my lap.  The last week and … Continue reading →

Posted in Brazilian Blowout, Chemistry, Current Events | 2 Comments

Really, We’re Doing This Again?

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

More drama on the Brazilian Blowout front.  (For a recap from last time, see here.)  For whatever reason, a BB spokesperson emailed me again this weekend with another press release,

Posted in Brazilian Blowout, Chemistry, Chemistry Basics, Current Events | 7 Comments

Brazilian Blowout and Formaldehyde

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

Having no reason to do my hair since I’m in lab all day Having naturally straight hair, I don’t usually pay attention to trendy methods of hair-straightening.  Until yesterday, that is, when a colleague pointed out a Fashionista article to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brazilian Blowout, Chemistry, Chemistry Basics, Current Events | 23 Comments

Bisphenol A Ban in Europe

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

While those of us in the US were busy stuffing ourselves with turkey on Thursday, the European Commission was hard at work making a decision about a proposed ban on the chemical bisphenol A (BPA).

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The Science Behind Barefoot Running

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

The much anticipated New York Marathon took place yesterday.  News articles leading up to the event tended to focus on , but at least one article hit on a somewhat controversial (and scientific!) topic in the running community – the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Physiology | 5 Comments

Current Events: Red Sludge

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Sharon Neufeldt

Last week a massive spill of red sludge from an aluminum production company in Hungary killed several people and destroyed a tremendous amount of property.  Here’s a look at what this red sludge is and why it’s so bad.

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