What Is Tinsel Made Of? Speaking of Chemistry Ep. 12 How is the shiny tinsel that decorates many Christmas trees made? Today it's mostly made of plastic. But did you know tinsel used to contain chemical element... By: CEN Online … Continue reading →

Theres one thing that the students who take Sevada Chamras organic chemistry class know that his exams are considerably more difficult than the American Chemistry Societys standardized test which may explain why Glendale Community College students scored in the 85 percentile after recently taking the national exam. What I have been told by almost all of my students is that they find the [American Chemistry Societys test] easier than my exams, Chamras said. If theyre trained to run 50K, 26K would feel much easier to you, he said. The two-semester class requires three hours of lecture and six hours in the lab each week, and students take the American Chemistry Societys exam at the end of their second semester. Within the time frame Chamras has with students, hes on the search for what he calls, the click the moment when students grasp the concepts of organic chemistry. It happens at different points in time for different people, he said, adding that some click a little bit into the second semester. Unfortunately, just like any other [class], I do have people who never click, Chamras said, but sometimes that can be due to family commitments or work pressures. Since 1999, when … Continue reading →

Phantom Chemistry seems an apt name for this Syracuse band. Founded in 2008, the bands members; Mike Burriesci (vocals, guitar, keyboard), John Ocasio (guitar and keyboard), Teddy Bratt (guitar and keyboard), Zack Parsell (bass, who took over for Dillon Cook who played bass for the recording of Whiskey Slurs) look like they could be some random college students from a Chem 101 class, but in recording their third release Whiskey Slurs, they perform musical alchemy. It is mysterious and hard to define the quality that brings together these musicians to create what they describe as self-styled psychedelic electro-indie rock. Together, their separate elements fuse and react into a combustible intensity that makes the listeners inner mad scientist cackle with a frantic cry: Its aliveIts ALIVE!!!!! The album was recorded over the past year by front man Burriesci in his self- built basement studio, Chemical Swirl Studio, and then mastered by Steve Sopchak at The Square Studio. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time isolated in my house with an acoustic guitar and a piano. I had recently picked up the piano so I spent a lot of time sitting at it every day. Burriesci remarked. Of the recording … Continue reading →

ASHBURN, Va. - Santana Moss has caught just seven passes this year for the Washington Redskins. At age 35, he knows he might not be much in demand once the season is over. That makes it a fair time to reflect on a good career that might have been even better, if only he could have played with a steady quarterback. And also to defend the first-year coach who made him a bench-warmer. "I feel like I've been cursed," Moss said with a laugh. "Everywhere I've been, I've had a million quarterbacks, man." Moss has averaged one quarterback per year, catching passes from 14 QBs since entering the league in 2001. An uninspiring list ranging from Jason Campbell (214) to Brooks Bollinger (2) has contributed to his 729 career receptions for 10,258 yards with the New York Jets and Redskins. Not bad, but he says he could have had "numbers like the other guys" he feels are on his level if he could've developed some long-term QB chemistry. "Never had a solid guy that I can really grow with," Moss said. This year, the Redskins have used three starters: Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. It hasn't mattered … Continue reading →