All articles by Brian Clegg – Page 4

  • Seaweed
    Podcast

    Sodium alginate

    2014-09-17T00:00:00Z

    When Brian Clegg’s acid reflux strikes, he knows he can rely on help from this compound: Sodium alginate

  • a bar of soap
    Podcast

    Phenol

    2014-09-03T00:00:00Z

    Phenol, that mainstay of the chemical industry, was a familiar smell around the house in soap. Brian Clegg reveals all

  • An electron micrograph of a cell
    Podcast

    Osmium tetraoxide

    2014-08-20T00:00:00Z

    It’s highly toxic but essential for studying detailed structures of cells. Brian Clegg introduces osmium tetraoxide

  • Pyridine
    Podcast

    Pyridine

    2014-06-11T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg holds his nose to examine one of the real workhorses of the organic chemistry lab: Pyridine

  • Ammonium dichromate volcano
    Podcast

    Ammonium dichromate

    2014-05-28T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg reminisces about indoor fireworks and Vesuvian fire with this week’s compound: ammonium dichromate

  • Socks
    Podcast

    Naphthalene

    2014-05-14T00:00:00Z

    Once a fusty way of keeping moths out of clothes, Brian Clegg explains how naphthalene may have helped bring life to Earth

  • Tea
    Podcast

    Tannins

    2014-04-30T00:00:00Z

    They are the compounds that link leather trousers to a nice cup of tea - Brian Clegg introduces tannins

  • Luminol
    Podcast

    Luminol

    2014-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Amongst the fictional forensic equipment shown on television, Brian Clegg notices one distinctly non-fiction stalwart: luminol

  • Nebula
    Podcast

    Helium hydride

    2014-03-19T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg introduces the first compound to ever exist: Helium hydride

  • Hangover
    Podcast

    Acetaldehyde

    2014-01-22T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg meets a simple organic compound with a reputation for being something of a bruiser

  • Boron nitride
    Podcast

    Boron nitride

    2013-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg explains how the versatile compound boron nitride may be ‘the best kept secret in all of chemistry’

  • Soldiers in the trenches. Reconstruction of World War 2
    Podcast

    Potassium bromide

    2013-11-20T00:00:00Z

    Did chemistry help control tension in the trenches? Brian Clegg investigates potassium bromide

  • Suncream
    Podcast

    Zinc oxide

    2013-08-28T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg is taken back to his childhood by zinc oxide

  • Film roll
    Podcast

    Cellulose acetate

    2013-07-24T00:00:00Z

    It kept the explosions on the silver screen instead of in the projection booth - Brian Clegg on cellulose acetate

  • PVC pipes
    Podcast

    PVC

    2013-07-03T00:00:00Z

    To some it looks cheap and nasty, for others it’s a sensible (or even sexy) design decision. Brian Clegg wraps himself in PVC

  • Sniffing wine
    Podcast

    Denatonium benzoate

    2013-04-18T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg has a sniff at the bitterest substance known to science

  • epsom salt
    Podcast

    Magnesium sulfate

    2013-04-10T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg explains how bath salts may actually be more than just relaxing

  • Cadmium sulfide
    Podcast

    Cadmium sulfide

    2013-03-13T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg brightens up our lives with some bright yellow chemistry

  • Close up view of woman's eye
    Podcast

    Opsins

    2013-02-27T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg opens our eyes to the compounds that enable sight

  • Ammonium sulfate, Mohrs Salt. Fertilizer in white fertilizer bag
    Podcast

    Ammonia

    2012-11-21T00:00:00Z

    Brian Clegg sniffs out the chemistry behind this week's famous compound