Chemistry of Cooking

A biochemist and cook explains that cooking is all about chemistry and knowing some facts can help chefs understand why recipes go wrong.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0112-chemistry_of_cooking.htm

We All Scream For Ice-Cream!

A laser diffraction technique used to examine crushed ores is now being used to improve the quality of ice-cream and chocolate. Listen to a four-and-a-half-minute podcast to learn how the technique works.

Read how ice-cream works. Discover some ice-cream history and learn about ice-cream around the world.

To make your own serving of ice-cream, place in a small zip loc baggy (the heavy-duty, freezer type): 1 Tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla. and 1/c cup milk. Secure zip loc and place small baggy in a larger zip loc baggy (also the heavy duty kind). Surround the small baggy with ice to 1/2 large baggy full and put in 6 T salt on ice. Next, shake the baggies 5-10 minutes (you might want to wear gloves) and voila! Your own serving of ice cream is ready. Chocolate syrup on top is really good. Yum!

If you have an ice-cream maker at home, there are lots of great ice-cream recipes on the web.

LiveChem

Want to see some chemical reactions without leaving your house? Virtual Chemistry lets you select different reactants and then see them react in the comfort of your own home. See if you can make a reaction that results in a colour change or produces heat.

And the Nobel Prize Goes To…

Women have made great contributions to the field of chemistry and Marie Curie is one of them. In fact, she won two Nobel Prizes – one in 1903 for her contributions to Physics and one in 1911 for her contributions to Chemistry. Who are the other female Nobel Laureates in Chemistry? Find out about them: Irene Joliot-Curie (Marie Curie’s daughter) and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin.

What Can We Do With Carbon Dioxide?

Carbon dioxide is generated every minute of everyday and it’s of great concern to scientists because of its role in climate control. Some scientists are trying to figure out ways to put all this extra carbon dioxide to use. Read aboutsome of the challenges that scientists are facing.

Polymers Are Beautiful!

There are some wonderful desktop wallpaper images available from the online galleries of the Ventures in Science Using Art Laboratory. Each image is accompanied by information about the science behind it. Select the appropriate size of your desktop and follow the instructions on the image page. The VISUAL program is designed to give the general public and aspiring students access to imagery that is not only breathtaking to see, but rich in scientific information.

Balloon Molecules

You’ve heard about making balloon animals. Try your hand at balloon art to make molecular models. This is a how-to site with lots of photos and instruction.

Atom Flowers

Look at the periodic table pictorially through the patterns of each element’s electron, neutron and proton pathways.

Dihydrogen Monoxide

A bit of fun, but be careful – words can be deceiving – it’s water!

Science of Cooking

Cool site with amazing information, fun activities. Is there really saltwater in saltwater taffy? What really goes on when you bake? What makes a pickle a pickle?  How do you experience the flavour of food? Visit an organic egg farm. Fake an apple pie. Grow a salt sculpture. Try some great recipes. Satisfy your hunger for knowledge!