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Chain Reaction by ACS: Daily Summaries Delivered
by American Chemical Society
Chain Reaction links chemistry's past to its future, revealing how this ever‑evolving science shapes the world around us, from the materials we use every day to the environment that we depend on. Each episode brings fresh perspectives and personal stories from chemists, engineers, and other scientists, as well as historians who guide us through pivotal moments in chemistry’s history. Together, we’ll uncover chemistry’s surprising connections, explore its interdisciplinary impact, and see how past discoveries set off the breakthroughs of today and the future. Whether you’re a student, an experienced scientist, or simply curious, Chain Reaction will show you how chemistry fits into the bigger picture — and why it matters now more than ever.
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- 1 weeks ago7 min
[Bonus] From the Cutting Room Floor: Anthrax Decontamination Following the 2001 Attacks
In the inaugural “From the Cutting Room Floor” — where we take parts of interviews that didn’t quite fit in our regular episodes — we talk about anthrax. Well not exactly… we talk about what happens with the chemicals that we use to kill anthrax. In 2001, some high profile people like news anchors and senators received mail laced with anthrax — a spore-forming bacteria that can be deadly. Afterwards, there were many spaces that had to be decontaminated. And Richard Corsi was tapped to study t...
- 3 weeks ago29 min
Does Earth Have Limits?: The Chemistry of Pollution, Episode 4
Pollution is only one way humans are altering our planet. There’s climate change, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and much more. Earth system scientists, including biological oceanographer Katherine Richardson, developed the nine planetary boundaries, a framework to understand what Earth systems are critical for life, and what will happen if human-caused changes to our planet continue. Katherine unpacks these boundaries, revealing how chemistry sits at the heart of both the problems and so...
- 4 weeks ago39 min
The Soil and Superfund Sites Beneath Us: The Chemistry of Pollution, Episode 3
Water and air pollution may capture the headlines, but there’s another threat looming beneath our feet: soil. We farm on it, build cities on it, and pull water from it. But pollutants from industrial waste, mining, and trash settle in soil, wreaking havoc on existing ecosystems and threatening our food and water supply. Soil and environmental chemist Owen Duckworth shares how chemists study soil, the unique qualities of soil pollutants, and the role chemists play in protecting public health.&...
- Apr 30, 202637 min
It’s a Watery World: The Chemistry of Pollution, Episode 2
We live in a watery world; 71% of Earth is covered in water. But humans have polluted Earth’s water for decades with pollutants like plastic, oil, and drugs. Marine chemist Chris Reddy guides us through what happens to the ocean during human-caused spills – from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to the X-Press Pearl plastic spill – and how the ocean recovers. But our oceans aren’t the only waters at risk of human-caused pollution. Analytical chemist Carrie McDonough transports us to the w...
- Apr 23, 202636 min
The Air We (Want to) Breathe: The Chemistry of Pollution, Episode 1
In the first episode of our series on pollution, we’re turning to the very thing necessary for human life: air. Environmental engineer Pete DeCarlo introduces us first to the tools chemists use to study the air, including the early innovations by chemist Arnold Beckman. These tools alarmed us to the problem of air pollution and its impact on human health, from the smog derived from cars in Los Angeles to the gases escaping from factories in Louisiana, the home of Cancer Alley, an 85-mile indu...
- Apr 16, 20261 min
Teaser: The Chemistry of Pollution
In this miniseries, Chain Reaction takes listeners on a sweeping journey through the hidden chemistry of pollution—above us, around us, and beneath our feet. The series begins with the air we breathe, tracing how chemists developed tools to detect invisible pollutants and how those discoveries revealed major public health crises, from urban smog and industrial emissions to the often‑overlooked danger of polluted indoor air. From the sky, the story flows into water, where marine and analytical...
- Apr 9, 202616 min
[Bonus] Egg cars, butterfly opsins and mosquito brains: Get to know host Margot Wohl
In this special bonus episode of Chain Reaction, meet the voices behind the American Chemical Society’s newest chemistry podcast. Host and producer Margot Wohl and executive producer Sam Jones introduce themselves, share their journeys from science research to science communication, and explain why Chain Reaction by ACS exists in the first place. Sam talks about launching ACS’s long‑running podcast Tiny Matters and her path from biomedical research to podcasting, while Margot shares her backg...
- Apr 2, 202624 min
150 Years of ACS: The Origin Story of Chemistry, Episode 4
For 150 years, the American Chemical Society has been a pillar of the chemistry field, supporting students and professionals through major world events and scientific developments. The 2025 president of ACS, Dorothy Phillips, joins to discuss the future of the society while also bringing us along on her trailblazing journey through chemistry. Transcripts and episode sources at acs.org/chainreaction
About Chain Reaction by ACS
Chain Reaction links chemistry's past to its future, revealing how this ever‑evolving science shapes the world around us, from the materials we use every day to the environment that we depend on. Each episode brings fresh perspectives and personal stories from chemists, engineers, and other scientists, as well as historians who guide us through pivotal moments in chemistry’s history. Together, we’ll uncover chemistry’s surprising connections, explore its interdisciplinary impact, and see how past discoveries set off the breakthroughs of today and the future. Whether you’re a student, an experienced scientist, or simply curious, Chain Reaction will show you how chemistry fits into the bigger picture — and why it matters now more than ever.
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