‘When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young’ – Maya Angelou My name’s Portia and I’m … Continue reading Meet Portia
Meet Alex
First off, let me start by introducing myself – I’m Alex, a 27-year-old journal editor and physics student studying part-time through the Open University. My journey into the realm of sciences has often been described as rather odd. The term I like to use, however, is unique. I was born in windy Cape Town, South … Continue reading Meet Alex
What is the Difference between Shampoo and Conditioner
As far back as most can remember, our hair has been washed with shampoo first and conditioner second, but it seems many of us don’t really know why, or even understand the differences between the two. The washing process of hair can be understood when looking at the composition of hair (figure 1A). Within hair … Continue reading What is the Difference between Shampoo and Conditioner
How do Fireworks Work?
Fireworks can be characterised as self-contained explosive devices which contain a mixture of many components such as oxidising agents, fuels and metal salts. We often associate fireworks with celebration, but the first fireworks were used to warn off evil spirits. Simple firecrackers are thought to have been developed around 1000 years ago by Chinese monk … Continue reading How do Fireworks Work?
The Chemistry of Fake Tan
photo from: https://www.superdrug.com/blog/beauty-manuals/the-ultimate-guide-to-applying-fake-tan As discussed in a previous blog post (https://glamsci.blog/2019/04/23/how-does-sunscreen-protect-our-skin/), prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays can be very dangerous, but even with this knowledge, many people still desire sun-kissed skin. A safer alternative to sunbathing or using a sunbed is fake tan, a cosmetic product that uses chemicals to temporarily darken the skin, … Continue reading The Chemistry of Fake Tan
Why do Some People Think Coriander Tastes Like Soap?
Coriander, often referred to as cilantro in North America, is a herb native to southern Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia. Coriander is thought to be capable of lowering cholesterol,1 as well as treating fevers, nausea and stomach disorders,2 and is a popular herb of choice in both Indian and Spanish cuisines. It is also … Continue reading Why do Some People Think Coriander Tastes Like Soap?
How does Hair Removal Cream Work
Removing body hair is a practise that has been traced back as far as ancient Egypt and India,1,2 where copper razors were used by women to shave their body hair as well as the hair on their head. Hair removal is still just as popular and desirable for many people today, although the methods we … Continue reading How does Hair Removal Cream Work
What Causes Rusting and is it Limited to Iron
The word rust is a common name for the specific compound Fe2O3, also known as iron oxide. The iron in this compound is iron(III), meaning it has lost three of its electrons when binding to the oxygen. Iron and alloys which contain iron are abundant materials that are found in cars, bikes, chains, and many … Continue reading What Causes Rusting and is it Limited to Iron
Why we Need Soap to Clean Dirty Dishes
It is well known that cleaning your dirty dishes with water alone is just not sufficient and so, we employ soaps like fairy liquid and use dishwasher tablets to help us get rid of the dirt, but why do we need these? Soap is a generic term for fatty acid salts, with the general formula … Continue reading Why we Need Soap to Clean Dirty Dishes
Meet Jen
My name is Jen and I’m a trainee Medical Physicist in the Radiotherapy Department at St. James’ Hospital in Leeds. I’m currently training to become a qualified Clinical Scientist in Radiotherapy Physics as part of the national Scientist Training Programme. Before I go into too much detail about my current role, I’ll just give you … Continue reading Meet Jen
GlamBlog 