/oss/taxonomy/term/2925/all en /oss/article/history-you-asked/what-rayon <p>Cellulose is the most abundant organic chemical in the world, being the structural component of the cell wall of green plants. In terms of molecular structure, it is composed of anywhere from several hundred to over ten thousand glucose molecules linked together in a linear fashion. Cellulosic fibers from the flax plant were woven into linen as early as 8000 BC, and cotton, which has a cellulose content of over 90% was being grown, spun and woven into cloth by 3,000 BC.</p> Fri, 19 Nov 2021 21:07:03 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8928 at /oss /oss/article/health/are-we-risk-wearing-clothing-detectable-amounts-pfass-or-phthalates <p>Much ink has recently been spilled about our environment, and potentially our bodies, being contaminated by some of the estimated 60,000 chemicals being industrially produced today. That ink itself contains the likes of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates, chemicals of concern because of their hormone disruptive properties, and in the case of PFAS, also because of their environmental persistence. That has earned the latter the nickname “forever chemicals.” Both these classes of substances are found in numerous consumer products.</p> Fri, 20 Aug 2021 20:00:29 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8811 at /oss /oss/article/health-technology/are-summer-clothes-protecting-your-skin-sunburns <p>How much protection does your white T-shirt offer you in the summer when you’re out in the sun? Would you say it’s impossible to get a sunburn underneath that garment?</p> Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:56:53 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7838 at /oss /oss/article/videos-technology-history/right-chemistry-making-javel-water <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-xvhub-zmabs" width="640" height="390" title="Dr Joe Schwarcz: The making of Javel water" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xVhUB-zmABs?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-xvhub-zmabs&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr Joe Schwarcz: The making of Javel water" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr Joe Schwarcz: The making of Javel water</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:28:26 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7355 at /oss /oss/article/technology/getting-stoned <p>Ever wonder about how that stone washed effect is achieved on blue jeans?  By washing with stones, that's how.  The fabric is placed into large industrial washing machines together with volcanic rocks.  The rocks rub against the surface, abrading some of the cotton yarn.  Since the fibers used to make jeans are dyed only on the surface with indigo, the undyed white cotton begins to show through.  A clever inventor in the U.S.</p> Tue, 16 Jan 2018 18:35:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 6888 at /oss