/oss/taxonomy/term/5651/all en /oss/article/history-general-science/there-more-acetone-removing-nail-polish <p>Say acetone, and what comes to a chemist’s mind? Washing laboratory glassware is a good bet. Actually, the prime use of acetone is to produce polymethyl methacrylate, better known as Plexiglas. Much of the five million tons of acetone produced annually in the world goes towards satisfying the hunger for Plexiglas. Skylights, light fixtures, automobile parts, furniture, pediatric incubators, hockey rinks, fish tanks, medical implants, household appliances, and of course, all those dividers we have seen during the COVID pandemic are all made of this material.</p><p> </p> Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz Phd 9283 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/plexiglass-protection-pieta-and-us <p>Some companies have benefitted from COVID-19. Like those that manufacture plexiglass. Banks, stores, automobile dealers all feature plexiglass panels to reduce the chance of viral transmission. The prevalence of this rather remarkable plastic conjures up memories for me of my first trip to New York in 1964. A couple of buddies and I decided we had to see the World’s Fair. When we finally made it to Flushing Meadows, we had to decide what to see first. The longest line was in front of, all things, the Vatican pavilion. We joined it. All these people, we figured, must know something.</p> Sat, 11 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8839 at /oss