Sodium azide is a white powder that explodes when it hits metal. When it hits water, it turns into an acid that can eat through your skin. When it’s inhaled, it shreds your lungs. But for a long time, ...

Two recent articles refer to the hazards of working with sodium azide (NaN 3) (C&EN, Jan. 11, page 4, and Nov. 9, 2009, page 8). American Azide Corp., a division of American Pacific Corp. (AMPAC), has ...

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts. In August, six Harvard Medical School scientists were sickened after ...

A chemical found in rapid home COVID-19 antigen tests contains a small amount of a chemical that could be potentially hazardous, according to the National Capital Poison Center. According to the ...

An airbag can save your life, but if improperly manufactured, it could mean your death. At least five people have died after airbags made by Japanese company Takata exploded during deployment in ...

It was important to read the recent letters that revisited the dangers associated with the use of sodium azide (C&EN Jan. 11, page 4; April 5, page 5; and Nov. 9, 2009, page 8). None of these letters, ...

Starting next week, every home in the United States will be able to order four more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, public health ...

Did you know that a really fast chemical reaction makes riding in a car safer? Most cars have airbags built into the dashboard and steering wheel that can blow up like super-fast balloons during a ...

Spend a little time in a biology lab, and you figure out pretty quickly nothing much gets done without using chemicals that could hurt you. But nobody bargains on someone putting poison in the office ...

The name "airbag" can be deceiving because the bag is not exactly filled with air. Instead, this life-saving device is filled with nitrogen gas, which is produced in a swift reaction by a compound ...

Normally, when something explodes it tends to be a bad day for all involved. But not every explosion is intended to maim or kill. Plenty of explosions are designed to save lives every day, from the ...