Chemicals & other reactions
What do we do to our bodies? What do our bodies do to us? Explore more with our expert views
Breaking the chains
Even many people who are fully aware of the health risks involved still enjoy lighting up. Faced with the costs and the dangers, why do people smoke?
Burning issues
Even today, there are people who argue about the risks of tobacco - it's little wonder it took 400 years to get conclusive evidence of the dangers of smoking cigarettes.
Gentle nudges
They're only tiny, but they can cause massive changes in our lives: find out how molecules affect us.
Get the rush
Afraid? Anxious? Exercising? Find out how your body regulates your reactions with pure adrenaline.
Drawing on science
Nicotine as patches and gum, but as a molecule? Find out what lies inside every packet of cigarettes.
Coffee
Why can't you function without a cup of coffee in the morning? What's the chemicals causing the kick in your coffee?
Open2 goes pop
Have you swigged carbonic acid? Chances are you have. Find out what's really in those fizzy drinks.
Tanning or cooking up cancers?
Tanning, of course, used to be a term for the process of taking a dead animal's skin and turning it into leather. Is suntanning so very different? Is the sun bad for you?
Smarter than science?
They're working out how to survive the onslaught of antibiotics - now can anything stop superbugs on the march?
Computing viruses
We're familiar with the big risks - but is our existence under attack from invisible forces? Meet our biggest smallest threat.
Content last updated: 22/02/2006
