The Lab Notebook

Some Mushrooms are Not So Fun-gi

Mushroom day is on 15 October 2021.

There are over 10 000 varieties of mushrooms on Earth. Many are edible and part of our diets, but some mushrooms are scary and not so fun-gi. Do you want to know which ones they are? 

Hive Five for Bee Day

Honey Bee Day is on 21 August 2021.

Bees are very important insects in our ecosystem but sadly, their populations are in decline. Can we do anything to save the bees?

Cheers and Beers

6th August 2021 is International Beer Day! It's always celebrated on the first Friday in August, by drinking beer of course. I don't typically consume a lot of beer myself, however, every once in a rare while, I have enjoyed a unique craft beer with fruity flavour notes. 

As I was recently looking through my travel albums, I found some beer-related photos to share. Read on to have a look.

The Chemical Brain

Brain Day is on 22 July every year!

The human brain is one of the most important yet complex organs in our body. It is fascinating yet mysterious. Read on to learn about the chemistry within our brains and see some cool brain art.

Durian away from Durians?

Some people love it, some people hate it, and some people hate to love it! The durian, D. zibethinus. That large spiky green fruit from Singapore, Malaysia & South East Asia with a really strong pungent odour.

And what causes the stink you ask? View full article to find out.

Chemical Defenses of Ants and Their Cousins

This week is Insect Week! 

A few years ago, I created a special science + art piece for a Natural History Show in Toronto about the Chemical Defenses of Hymenoptera Insects, from hardworking ants to busy bees and their cousins.

So, I thought I'd show you what it looks like and share some knowledge about these little critters. Read on.

Eating Sushi

Sushi Day is on 18th June 2021.

I'm not sure if you like sushi but being the foodie that I am, you know I do! The most fascinating sushi eating experience I've ever had was having sushi served from a conveyer belt.

Do you want to see what it looked like? 

Cheese Please

Cheese Day is 4 June 2021.

Several years ago, I visited a couple of cheese farms in the Netherlands. Read on to see some fun photos and learn some cheesy science!

I Saw the Coolest Chemistry Bar in Costa Rica

In 2009, I found the coolest chemistry bar in the world.

Do you want to see what it looked like? 

Cards for your Nerdy Father

Father's Day is celebrated around the world on 20th June 2021. That means it's coming up in just over a month's time.

If you're looking for a great card for your nerdy dad, I've got you covered. Read on to see my Top 5 Recommendations.