Thiobacillus, Thiothrix, and Beggiatoa are genera of acid-producing bacteria with significant contributions to creation of sulfuric...

Catalase is an enzyme found in carbon life forms, including humans. It's known for its exceptional ability to decompose hydrogen peroxide...

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a basic disinfectant and bleach of many households. If stored too long it will decompose. The decomposition...

Peracetic acid is a remarkable compound with powerful benefits and considerable risks. A colorless liquid with a sharp odor similar to...

The rotten egg sulfur smell is associated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a colorless gas. The stench can arise in water supplies, foods and...

White lead, lead(II) carbonate or PbCO₃, has a long sordid history in art, paint and industry, a major source of white for artists and in...

Toxic heavy metals cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, and arsenic are elements known for high density and toxicity even in small amounts....

Arsenic trioxide is a toxic compound with a a long and complex history, known at least by the time of the ancient Romans. Here's a look...

Protozoa are single-celled organisms integral to ecosystems worldwide. As microbes they're microscopic and invisible to the human eye....

Microbes are invisible and exist everywhere, in air, water and soil. Scientists find microbes living in the charred soil wildfires leave...

Microbiology explores the world of microbes or micro-organisms. It reveals a hidden dimension of unseen forces shaping health,...

Artists of Renaissance Europe cultivate palettes rich in colors sourced from elements both enchanting and lethal. The Renaissance is...

Bacteria are responsible for millions of vital processes hidden from our everyday perception. These single-celled organisms are essential...

Rust hides within itself a secret life, orchestrated by industrious communities of microscopic bacteria with immense power in the process...

Decay is a fundamental aspect of life cycles. An essential and complex process in the natural world, decay involves breakdown of organic...

Syphilis is a complex disease, leading to unusual and alternative treatments in history. A sexually transmitted disease, syphilis is...

Some graphics may be disturbing. Disease in the European Renaissance takes a grave toll. Ancient killers include smallpox, malaria,...

Nitric acid, called the Queen of Acids or aqua fortis (strong water) is a vital chemical compound with significant importance in fields...

Niter or saltpeter (KNO3) is the mineral form of potassium nitrate. A soft substance easy to grind, it creates colorless to white...

Fermentation is used intentionally by c. 8000 BCE to create honey mead , a blend of fermented honey and water. Yeast is crucial to...