At this time of year, many people are more aware of the things in life for which they are thankful. The run-up to Thanksgiving has many of us looking at our lives and pausing to appreciate what we have. Chemistry professionals are no exception. The field of chemistry has given the world many discoveries that have saved lives and improved the world so give it up for chemistry. Here are a few that these scientists are glad to have.
Beta carotene. It's part of the Thanksgiving table in sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, but it's also part of how your brain and eyes process sight, enabling you to view the world around you. With so many folks traveling at this time of year, it's good to be thankful for jet fuel and the scientists who work on making fuel that is more efficient and less dangerous to the planet. Rare earth elements might not seem like a big part of life, but these are crucial parts of making our cell phones work and where would we be without them? Those are just a few of things in our world that are made possible with good chemistry. What kinds of science are you thankful for?
