Vanity, vitality, and virility: the science behind the products you love to buy
Description
The science behind alpha-hydroxy acids, chlorine bleach, and other chemicals that people use every day is explored in a fascinating study that examines, through amusing anecdotes and odd facts, if and how they work. What is the secret of shower cleaners? How does the dangerous explosive nitroglycerin ward off heart attacks? And what medicines, usually prescribed for other purposes, are said to produce the ultimate orgasm? In Vanity, Vitality, and Virility, award-winning science writer John Emsley offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of 30 chemicals that we use everyday to make ourselves more beautiful, to improve our diet and sexual pleasure, to kill germs, and to ward off depression and other mental illnesses. Emsley looks at common compounds such as alpha-hydroxy acids, vitamin C, chlorine bleach, and Prozac, telling us if they work, how they work, and how they were discovered. Indeed, the book is packed with useful information and easy-to-digest science, and Emsley relates it all with a light touch that delights in the odd fact or amusing anecdote. Thus we learn of the "vitamin C tights" sold in Japan to make your legs more beautiful (they don't work) and of the whimsical Hungarian scientist who first isolated vitamin C and wanted to name it "godnose", because he had no idea what the compound was. We discover that Cleopatra was right to bath in milk, which is filled with alpha-hydroxy acids. And we read about the unforgettable British researcher who demonstrated a powerful new drug for male erections at a Las Vegas convention, injecting himself with the compound and then "displaying the results" to a stunned lecture hall. As with the much-loved Nature's Building Blocks, in John Emsley's hands, chemistry comes alive. Anyone curious about the ingredients in the products we use, and everyone fascinated with science, will be enthralled by this book.
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Subjects
Subjects
Afrodisiaca
Analytic
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry -- Popular works
Antibacterie?le middelen
Antibacteriële middelen
Chemistry
Chemistry, Analytic
Chemistry, Analytic -- Popular works
Chimie analytique
Chimie analytique -- Ouvrages de vulgarisation
Cosmetica
Electronic books
Motion picture industry
Motion pictures -- Production and direction
Polymeren
Popular works
Psychofarmaca
Scheikundige samenstelling
SCIENCE
SCIENCE -- Chemistry -- Analytic
Vitaminen
Werking
Analytic
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry -- Popular works
Antibacterie?le middelen
Antibacteriële middelen
Chemistry
Chemistry, Analytic
Chemistry, Analytic -- Popular works
Chimie analytique
Chimie analytique -- Ouvrages de vulgarisation
Cosmetica
Electronic books
Motion picture industry
Motion pictures -- Production and direction
Polymeren
Popular works
Psychofarmaca
Scheikundige samenstelling
SCIENCE
SCIENCE -- Chemistry -- Analytic
Vitaminen
Werking
More Details
Contributors:
ISBN:
9780192805096
9781429421454
9781280752179
9780191517112
9781429421454
9781280752179
9780191517112
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Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 664999c7-008b-03e5-c72f-c7f8066e6071 |
---|---|
Grouping Title | vanity vitality and virility the science behind the products you love to buy |
Grouping Author | john emsley |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-04-27 18:31:10PM |
Last Indexed | 2024-05-06 22:52:49PM |
Solr Fields
accelerated_reader_point_value
0
accelerated_reader_reading_level
0
author
Emsley, John
author2-role
ProQuest (Firm)
author_display
Emsley, John
available_at_bemis
Bemis Public Library
detailed_location_bemis
Bemis Lower Level
display_description
The science behind alpha-hydroxy acids, chlorine bleach, and other chemicals that people use every day is explored in a fascinating study that examines, through amusing anecdotes and odd facts, if and how they work. What is the secret of shower cleaners? How does the dangerous explosive nitroglycerin ward off heart attacks? And what medicines, usually prescribed for other purposes, are said to produce the ultimate orgasm? In Vanity, Vitality, and Virility, award-winning science writer John Emsley offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of 30 chemicals that we use everyday to make ourselves more beautiful, to improve our diet and sexual pleasure, to kill germs, and to ward off depression and other mental illnesses. Emsley looks at common compounds such as alpha-hydroxy acids, vitamin C, chlorine bleach, and Prozac, telling us if they work, how they work, and how they were discovered. Indeed, the book is packed with useful information and easy-to-digest science, and Emsley relates it all with a light touch that delights in the odd fact or amusing anecdote. Thus we learn of the "vitamin C tights" sold in Japan to make your legs more beautiful (they don't work) and of the whimsical Hungarian scientist who first isolated vitamin C and wanted to name it "godnose", because he had no idea what the compound was. We discover that Cleopatra was right to bath in milk, which is filled with alpha-hydroxy acids. And we read about the unforgettable British researcher who demonstrated a powerful new drug for male erections at a Las Vegas convention, injecting himself with the compound and then "displaying the results" to a stunned lecture hall. As with the much-loved Nature's Building Blocks, in John Emsley's hands, chemistry comes alive. Anyone curious about the ingredients in the products we use, and everyone fascinated with science, will be enthralled by this book.
format_bemis
Book
format_category_bemis
Books
id
664999c7-008b-03e5-c72f-c7f8066e6071
isbn
9780191517112
9780192805096
9781280752179
9781429421454
9780192805096
9781280752179
9781429421454
itype_bemis
Juvenile Biography
last_indexed
2024-05-07T04:52:49.673Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
local_callnumber_bemis
543 EMSLEY,J
owning_library_bemis
Bemis Public Library
owning_location_bemis
Bemis Public Library
primary_isbn
9780192805096
publishDate
2004
publisher
Oxford University Press
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Afrodisiaca
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry -- Popular works
Antibacterie?le middelen
Antibacteriële middelen
Chemistry, Analytic -- Popular works
Chimie analytique -- Ouvrages de vulgarisation
Cosmetica
Electronic books
Motion picture industry
Motion pictures -- Production and direction
Polymeren
Popular works
Psychofarmaca
SCIENCE -- Chemistry -- Analytic
Scheikundige samenstelling
Vitaminen
Werking
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry -- Popular works
Antibacterie?le middelen
Antibacteriële middelen
Chemistry, Analytic -- Popular works
Chimie analytique -- Ouvrages de vulgarisation
Cosmetica
Electronic books
Motion picture industry
Motion pictures -- Production and direction
Polymeren
Popular works
Psychofarmaca
SCIENCE -- Chemistry -- Analytic
Scheikundige samenstelling
Vitaminen
Werking
title_display
Vanity, vitality, and virility : the science behind the products you love to buy
title_full
Vanity, Vitality, and Virility : The Science behind the Products You Love to Buy Emsley, John.
Vanity, vitality, and virility : the science behind the products you love to buy / John Emsley
Vanity, vitality, and virility [electronic resource] : the science behind the products you love to buy / John Emsley
Vanity, vitality, and virility : the science behind the products you love to buy / John Emsley
Vanity, vitality, and virility [electronic resource] : the science behind the products you love to buy / John Emsley
title_short
Vanity, vitality, and virility
title_sub
the science behind the products you love to buy
topic_facet
Afrodisiaca
Analytic
Analytical chemistry
Antibacterie?le middelen
Antibacteriële middelen
Chemistry
Chemistry, Analytic
Chimie analytique
Cosmetica
Motion picture industry
Motion pictures -- Production and direction
Polymeren
Psychofarmaca
SCIENCE
Scheikundige samenstelling
Vitaminen
Werking
Analytic
Analytical chemistry
Antibacterie?le middelen
Antibacteriële middelen
Chemistry
Chemistry, Analytic
Chimie analytique
Cosmetica
Motion picture industry
Motion pictures -- Production and direction
Polymeren
Psychofarmaca
SCIENCE
Scheikundige samenstelling
Vitaminen
Werking
Solr Details Tables
item_details
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ebscoccu:ocm76914633 | ocm76914633 | Ebsco (CCU) | Online Ebsco (CCU) | eBook | eBook | 1 | false | true | Ebsco (CCU) | http://ezproxy.ccu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=176881 | Available Online | Ebsco (CCU) | |
ebscoacademiccmc:ocm76914633 | ocm76914633 | Ebsco Academic (CMC) | Online Ebsco Academic (CMC) | eBook | eBook | 1 | false | true | Ebsco Academic (CMC) | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=176881 | Available Online | Ebsco Academic (CMC) | |
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ebraryccu:EBC273341 | EBC273341 | Ebrary (CCU) | Online Ebrary (CCU) | eBook | eBook | 1 | false | true | Ebrary (CCU) | https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/cochristuniv-ebooks/detail.action?docID=273341 | Available Online | Ebrary (CCU) | |
proquestebookwestern:EBC273341 | EBC273341 | ProQuest Ebook Central (Western) | Online ProQuest Ebook Central (Western) | eBook | eBook | 1 | false | true | ProQuest Ebook Central (Western) | https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/wscc-ebooks/detail.action?docID=273341 | Available Online | ProQuest Ebook Central (Western) |
record_details
Bib Id | Format | Format Category | Edition | Language | Publisher | Publication Date | Physical Description | Abridged |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ebscoccu:ocm76914633 | eBook | eBook | English | Oxford University Press | 2004 | 1 online resource (xi, 259 pages) | ||
ebscoacademiccmc:ocm76914633 | eBook | eBook | English | Oxford University Press | 2004 | 1 online resource (xi, 259 pages) | ||
fortlewisebscoebooksub:ocm76914633 | eBook | eBook | English | Oxford University Press | 2004 | 1 online resource (xi, 259 pages) | ||
ils:.b25702439 | Book | Books | English | Oxford University Press | [2004] | xi, 259 pages ; 25 cm | ||
ebraryccu:EBC273341 | eBook | eBook | English | Oxford University Press | 2004 | xi, 259 p. | ||
proquestebookwestern:EBC273341 | eBook | eBook | English | Oxford University Press | 2004 | 1 online resource (272 pages) |
scoping_details_bemis
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ils:.b25702439 | .i122759771 | On Shelf | On Shelf | false | true | true | false | false | true | 195, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 170, 11, 171, 12, 13, 14, 15 |