Cocktail detail on #NationalDaiquiriDay! Berries in daiquiri form may last longer as research shows adding ethanol to strawberries reduces decay; this has been linked to an increasing antioxidant capacity (the activity of polyphenols inc ellagic acid) #delaydecay #RealTimeChem

Chill out on #VanillaIceCreamDay! When vanillin, the compd that gives vanilla its distinctive taste, is paired with the spectinomycin, it helps the antibiotic enter bacterial cells/inhibit their growth; so food additives can alter antibiotic effectiveness #doubleact #RealTimeChem

Time for cactus juice #NationalTequilaDay High-quality tequila is made with 100% Agave, while lower-end mixed tequila has sugar added prior to fermentation; pure Agave has higher levels of certain compds inc 2-phenylethanol allowing it to be identified as high-quality #keepitreal

Lift your spirits #NationalScotchDay Scotch Whisky (generated £4.5bn in 2021 in UK exports to ~180 markets) is a complex mix of 1000s of compounds inc syringaldehyde (obtained from lignin) formed on ageing the spirit in oak barrels over a long time period #enterintothespiritofit

Go in the red on #nationallipstickday! Lipsticks mainly contain waxes that help the colour stick to the lips. Beeswax is often used, which comprises mainly (70-80%) esters like myricin (myricyl palmitate) – the ester of myricyl alcohol & palmitic acid #waxlipstical #Realtimechem

Take it as read on #paperbackbookday! Old book smell is caused by the degradation of compds in the paper, ink & glue used in the bookmaking process, & is also influenced by its environment. A common VOC is furfural formed on degradation of cellulose #leapsoffthepage #RealTimeChem

Time for green fingers on #NationalAvocadoDay! Monounsaturated acids are the main fatty acids in avocado with the major one being oleic acid (~67-70% in 'Hass'); many insects release oleic acid at death which triggers the brood to remove dead bodies #asmellthattells #RealTimeChem

Sip & chew pip #NationalWatermelonDay! Z,Z-3,6-Nonadienal (watermelon aldehyde) is a potent watermelon odourant, which has an aroma reminiscent of fresh-cut watermelon; but as prone to both C=C isomerisation & oxidation it is no use as a flavourant #extractthenreact #RealTimeChem

Cut the mustard on #NationalMustardDay! Breaking open mustard seeds releases the enzyme myrosinase, which converts sinigrin into allyl isothiocyanate - this is responsible for the pungent taste of mustard & protects the plant against herbivores #nastytasteinthemouth #RealTimeChem

The world is your oyster #NationalOysterDay! Most volatiles extracted from fresh oysters arise from enzymatic oxidation of polyunsat fatty acids – this inc (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal, which smells like cucumbers; hence, oysters & cucumbers are a tasty combo #commonscents #RealTimeChem

Get to the root of the matter #RootBeerFloatDay! Traditionally, root beer is made from the sassafras tree, which contains safrole - studies in the 1960s suggested safrole was carcinogenic & the FDA banned sassafras/safrole for human consumption, so is no longer used #realtimechem

Go in the red #RaspberriesNCreamDay! Only 1-4mg of raspberry ketone gives each berry their intense smell/taste. Adding 1% of the ketone to a rodent’s diet of fatty food slows weight gain; to mimic this we would need to eat ~5000kg of berries per day #alotonyourplate #RealTimeChem

Chill out on #RaspberryBombeDay! Bombes usually inc a dash of rum - traditionally produced in the Caribbean, rum is a spirit made by fermenting cooked sugar cane juice & molasses. A key volatile is beta-damascenone (floral-fruity) also in roses/used in perfumery #bethereinspirit

Time for cream of the crop on #NationalCreamsicleDay! Premium ice creams can have ~20% fat giving it a velvety texture. Fats inc palmitic acid - in rodents, this triggers the brain to send messages to the body's cells, warning them to ignore the appetite & eat more #RealTimeChem

A day for fingers in many pies #LemonMeringuePieDay! The juice/oil of lemons contains photosensitizers, called psoralens, which make human skin extra-sensitive to sunlight. When an affected spot is overexposed it burns (phytophotodermatitis) #burningissue RealTimeChem (no longer active)

Chill out on #NationalSoftIceCreamDay! Those lactose intolerant may prefer ice cream from insect milk; milk from the Pacific beetle cockroach is x4 richer than that of a buffalo’s & farming insects is reported to be 90% more viable than farming cows #poachfromroach #RealTimeChem

Hit the spot on #AcnePositivityDay. Chemical exfoliants include beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) such as salicylic acid. This acid penetrates deep inside the skin's pores, helping to unclog any excess oil & impurities to prevent blackheads & skin blemishes. #skindeep #realtimechemistry

Excited that my first issue as Editor of Chemistry Review Hachette UK is out! 🎉 Fascinating articles (including from current & former York UG chemists), exploring everything from chemical profiling to why cats love catnip. 🧪🐱" #somethingforeveryone. magazines.hachettelearning.com/magazine/chemi…

Ever wondered why cats go crazy for catnip? 🐱🌿 The latest Chemistry Review poster unpacks the compound behind the fascination — perfect for A-level chemists! 🧪 #Chemistry #Catnip #ALevelChem Hachette Learning - Ages 11-19

Delighted to see that Class Central has recently ranked Exploring Everyday Chemistry as the best ‘Practical Organic Chemistry Course’ for 2025 🧪🥳 #chemistry classcentral.com/report/best-or…