Molecules
that Matter
Click through our featured molecules to find out some interesting facts and trivia!
Dopamine
Dopamine
Water is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere
and the fluids of all known living organisms. It is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients. Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface.
It’s been quipped, that the human body is 70% water so we're basically just dehydrated cucumbers with anxiety.
More accurately, the human body consists on average 60%
of water, 34% of organic substances, 6% of inorganic
(for different ages, the given ratios vary).
Interestingly, our lungs, much like beer are
made up of about 90% water. Cheers!
Water
Chlorophyll
Water
Chlorophyll
Dopamine is known as the “feel good” drug, but don’t
feel bad if you don’t know how else it affects our
brains and bodies. Basically, dopamine is a powerful neurotransmitter which is a chemical released in our brain that helps communication between other cells in our body. It affects many of our bodily functions, from how our body moves to our moods and memories.
But to ensure you don’t nod off, here’s just
1 more fact about this chemical messenger:
Dopamine helps you feel alert! A study showed that
those who are sleep deprived have less dopamine
binding to their receptors in the brain.
You may not know your Acacias from your Aspens -
but at a quick glance you’ll see all trees have something
in common - leafy greens. This, of course, is because plants have the pigment chlorophyll, which enviably helps plants create their own food through photosynthesis.
This not only sustains plant life but produces oxygen for
the entire planet. Although microscopic in size, chloroplasts
(the organelles that conduct photosynthesis) have a big role to play in the health of the planet. Unfortunately, there too little space here to go into details. After all, Chlorophyll was first isolated and named in 1817 – and a lot of life has happened since then.
Stephen Hawkins said “Science is not only
a discipline of reason, but, also, one of romance and passion.”
Many molecules make a major impact on life and happiness, from adrenalin and dopamine, to serotonin and oxytocin. No matter your molecule mood, you can rest assured that
we share your passion for science.