I just finished reading Twinkie, Deconstructed by Steve Ettlinger. As a chemist, I found it fascinating to learn so much about all the processes that are used to turn wheat into flour. As a cook, I found it interesting to learn about the different kinds of wheat and hard wheat is better for bread flour [...]
A few weeks ago I toured the Maker’s Mark distillery. It was interesting to learn how they make bourbon. The tour guide referred to the liquid formed in the first step of the production as beer. I had never thought about how closely related beer is to distilled spirits. During the making of bourbon, the [...]
C&EN’s What’s That Stuff? column always has interesting articles. Or maybe it’s that, as a chemist, I like knowing about the chemicals found in materials that I use every day. Their article on Oil Paints was enlightening for me, particularly since I have several relatives who are artists. It sounds like the artists of previous [...]
In the September 8 issue, Chemical and Engineering News (article available to subscribers only) reported about a chemistry graduate student who has been arraigned for stealing equipment and chemicals to manufacture methamphetamine. UC Merced’s Jason West was one of the first students to complete his Ph.D. coursework requirements at Merced’s relatively new campus. The alleged [...]