How nice would it be if we weren’t alone in the Universe? Many believe that somewhere in the vast cosmos, there exist intelligent life forms simply waiting for human contact. While there’s nothing wrong with being hopeful of such a scenario, it is important to also remain objective in the search for truth. Belief and blind faith are the most dangerous alien beings of them all.
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Looking for medicinal properties in natural compounds is the cornerstone of drug discovery, with many drugs on the market originating from or inspired by plant or animal metabolites. Frog skin secretions contain hundreds of biologically active peptides, piquing the interest...
The AIDS/HIV pandemic of 1981 took everyone by surprise. In the U.S., the FDA and pharmaceutical companies raced to test the effectiveness of drug candidates like AZT in clinical trials. Many patients turned to unproven, unregulated and illegal treatments like...
Hot springs are popular throughout the world, especially in colder climates. There’s nothing like soaking your body in steaming hot water surrounded by picturesque views of snow-capped mountains. But hang on. Why is there an odor of rotten eggs coming...
From every day air travel to the awe-inspiring launch of space shuttles and satellites, we know that science is more than capable of taking us to the skies. But there is another, equally important field of research that flies under...
The Skeptical Chemist is all about communicating tough science to a wider audience.
Our evidence-based, referenced articles are divided into several sub-categories:
Everyday Science articles explain common occurrences, like what makes methanol toxic, and why the color blue is so rare in nature
Discovery to Market articles focus on the commercial side of research, such as the costs involved in drug development
Structure-Based Design articles delve into techniques and strategies researchers use to develop the next ‘blockbuster‘ compound
Not Exactly Peer Review is a column for discussing pseudoscience, presenting the facts against issues like the non-GMO project
