Sugar's ability to adhere to a surface pretty impressive. Back in the 1950s, women even used sugar water to hold extravagant hairdos in place - and it made them pretty indestructible. But how does the sugar do it?

Everyone knows that oil and water just don’t mix. But how come?

A little fabric softener is a big comfort in a tough world. But what chemical trick is behind the feel of clothes freshly-rinsed with fabric softener?

Fat tomatoes, enormous pumpkins, sunflowers that stretch up into the sky - for some home gardeners, what starts out as a hobby turns into a quest for the colossal. There are even competitions. And to have a chance, an ambitious gardener has to do a lot more than just talk to his little green charges. If you want quick growth and sturdy plants, there's just no getting around it – you have to fertilize them.

To protect themselves from the swords and arrows of their enemies, soldiers throughout the ages have used armor made of different types of material: leather, bronze or iron. Nowadays there are more comfortable ways to keep yourself protected.

Few spices are as treasured and avoided! A clove of garlic is both tasty and healthy, but after you eat it, don't be surprised if even your friends start to give you a wide berth. Quite a few people find the smell of garlic disgusting, and will probably keep their distance.

A motor oil's primary function in an engine is to lubricate its moving parts. A thin film of oil keeps the parts from rubbing directly against one another, preventing wear and ensuring smooth motion. To fulfill that function, the oil can’t be too thick or too thin either. But calibrating a motor oil is a lot harder than it sounds.

A leather jacket has been through an astonishing transformation. You can’t even tell that it was once on the back of a cow. How do you make an elegant piece of leather from rough cattlehide?

Nowadays, most of us have a digital camera. In this case you wouldn't even ask such a question. You just print out the pictures. Developing pictures through classic photography is a bit more complicated.

You should be able to chew gum for some time without it dissolving. A determining factor is its chewable base. Nowadays, modern chewing gum consists mainly of a polymer mixture.

Dry ice cannot be found in nature. It is just not cold enough here on earth. In outer space, on the planet Mars for example, carbon dioxide hardens and turns into ice. But who is going to fly to Mars just to get dry ice?

We usually think of a light bulb when thinking of light. Yet, a light bulb has very little in common with a fluorescent tube. In a light bulb, the light is generated by a filament. On the other hand, a gas is stimulated, causing the fluorescent lamp to illuminate.

Air fresheners capture the annoying odor molecules, no longer allowing them to smell. But how does it actually function?

Our nose is a master at chemistry. Day after day it sniffs through various aroma molecules travelling through the air. Our nose can distinguish between approximately 10.000 different smells. Coffee aroma is one of them. For many of us an exceptionally pleasant experience.

In western cultures, tanned skin is seen as beautiful and desirable. Even without sunlight, you can turn brown overnight with the help of tanning cream. But how does it actually function?

Surely you know of those practical plastic pouches which heat-up as soon as you bend the metal platelet inside. A good thing to have during winter: warm fingers are just a pants pocket away. But how does it work without fire or a battery? Another secret that can be revealed through chemistry.

Matches are practical. A box of red-tip, wooden matches fits into every pants pocket. Always ready to light a candle or fireplace. A swift move, a light crackling sound and the match is lit. It happens every day, so why be amazed? Well, if you take a closer look, a box of matches contains a great deal of chemistry.

Red wine, egg yolk, gravy, lipstick or chocolate - every spot has its own chemistry. Not an easy task for a laundry detergent, getting a variety of spots out of your clothing just like that. It takes teamwork. Therefore, up to thirty different ingredients help to keep your laundry clean and bright.

Steel consists mainly of iron. And, iron has an unpleasant characteristic: it rusts. For example, if you don't dry it after washing up, reddish-brown rust spots will appear after a while.

Every child knows the rule to brush teeth after eating. But, what actually happens in your mouth when you brush?

In some countries the new year will be welcomed with nice festive fireworks. But without chemistry, there would be no colorful stars shining in the night sky, no sparkling rain, no silver trails in the darkness.

When you look at yourself in the mirror, you could be led to believe that the glass is doing the reflecting. This is not so. The actual mirror is well-protected behind a plate of glass. This send in question comes from Amir Hossein Seyyedi.

When we say highlighter pen or text marker, we are actually talking about a normal felt-tip pen with a special attribute. With a single stroke, normal words and letters illuminate at a glance. This send in question comes from Leonidas.

A banana does not like it in the refrigerator - understandably so. From the time it starts out as a small plant, it is used to tropical sun. Its peel turns spotty and brown. Its flavour disappears. How can this happen? This send in question comes from Mahaboob Basha in Bangalore, India.

There is a lot to learn about chemistry hidden in a packet of baking powder. It not only makes a cake's batter wonderfully light and fluffy, but could also extinguish a fire. This send in question comes from Said from Egypt.

A calcified kettle can become a real energy-eater. You first use energy to heat the chalk before the water can even get hot. That is why it is important to dissolve or remove the chalk or lime regularly. But why does a kettle actually calcify? This send in question comes from Kai in Germany.

Our skin contains approximately 2.5 million sweat glands spread over our entire body. Figuratively speaking our body's air-conditioning - yet, they also create a "sweaty" smell. This send in question comes from Isabel in Nairobi, Kenya.

Chilli peppers are in a league of their own. A chemical substance is responsible for their fiery taste. Even when diluted to one part in a million, a person can still recognize its burning flavour. In entertaining weekly episodes our Chemical Reporter answers questions on Chemistry in our everyday life. This send in question comes from Jaoud in Oulmes, Morocco.

On special occasions we like to break out the silver ware. Unfortunately, sometimes it does not shine quite as festively as we would like and may even be completely tarnished. Find out why in the entertaining weekly episodes of our Chemical Reporter. He answers questions on Chemistry in our everyday life. This send in question comes from Bruno in Pernambuco, Brazil.

When fall arrives the tree's living conditions begin to change. The days are shorter and the weather gradually cools down. So nature simply takes a small break and shows us a colourful world. Find out why in the entertaining weekly episodes of our Chemical Reporter who answers questions on Chemistry in our everyday life. This send in question comes from Sharmila Sigdel via e-mail.

Automotive paint must endure a great deal in its travels: scrubbing car wash brushes, flying rocks and stones or lashing tree branches. Even our finger nails leave permanent traces behind when opening and closing the car’s doors. What must be done with the paint so that it resists all the stresses and strains as long as possible? This send in question comes from Timothy from Vancouver, Canada.

Whether surfer-look, Latin-lover style or high-power hair. With a little hair gel, fashionable and trendy looks can quickly be achieved. The name of the game is maximum hold. But how does it work? What is "chemically speaking" behind this styling formula? This send in question comes from Anouk from Amsterdam.

When we cut into an onion, we release a chain reaction. So the onion defends itself with chemical weaponry. This should scare off the attacker. Ideally it is meant to deter hungry rodents, yet humans belong to its natural enemies. Our Chemical Reporter explains why eyes begin to burn when chopping onions. This send in question comes from Ben Kenya.

So you try to get your greasy chicken fingers clean without soap – only water – and it does not seem to help much. The water either bubbles or rolls off the oil and your fingers stay greasy. This is because water has a special characteristic: its surface tension. Our Chemical Reporter explains how soap can help. This send in question comes from Ivan from Cyprus.

To make it short: The cold does not come into the refrigerator. Instead, the warmth goes out. Technically speaking, a refrigerator cannot produce coldness. That sounds a bit strange at first, yet the operation principle of a refrigerator is based on a simple law of nature. Our Chemical Reporter explains the principle. This send in question comes from Bruno from Brazil.

Not only colors of clothing fade and become pale, but many other things in our daily lives are also affected. Like interior paint, plastic objects, photographs and pictures. Listen to our Chemical Reporter and learn why. With this send in question Jeffry from Indonesia won an iPod Nano during our competition on www.young-germany.de

You could go ahead and get the impression that it is always best to drive with 100-octane fuel. This is not true. Every gasoline-operated engine is adjusted to a specific type of gasoline. What does the octane number at the gas pump mean? With this send in question Uli from Essen won an iPod Nano during our competition on www.young-germany.de

The history of concrete begins in ancient Rome. The Romans found a way to produce artificial stone – with which they constructed the Colosseum, for example, and the famous Pantheon Dome. Even after thousands of years, we still marvel at these antique buildings. The composition of concrete has remained essentially the same since then. Our Chemical Reporter explains the details.

Many people like that tingling feeling on their tongue. Carbonated mineral water just seems to have that certain lively something. A bottle of soda water contains approximately six grams of carbon dioxide (or carbonic acid gas). But how does it actually get in there? Listen to the answer of our Chemical Reporter.
With this send in question Yvonne from Singapore wins an iPod Nano during our actual competition on www.young-germany.de

Despite exhaust fumes from millions of cars, the air in our cities is relatively clean; thanks to the catalytic converter - better known as 'cat'. It transforms an astonishing 98 percent of related pollutants into non-toxic substances. But, how does the 'cat' succeed in making such a clean transformation? With this send in question Remi wins an iPod Nano during our actual competition on www.young-germany.de

Anyone who has ever been hiking or on a walking-tour, and been surprised by pouring rain, knows how unpleasant it feels to be stuck in wet leather shoes. The shoes drenched in water, heavy as lead and your feet soaking wet. What is thesecret behind rainproof shoes? With this send in question Naeem from Syria won an iPod Nano during our competition on www.young-germany.de

Coffee filters, paper towels or tea bags are made out of paper fibres. Even when they are wet, they don’t tear at once. How special chemicals bring about this effect, is explained in a new issue of our Chemical Reporter.

Some hair highlights in red for the up coming party or just covering first grey hairs - no problem thanks to dyes for hair. And the secret behind dyeing is going to be disclosed in our new issue of The Chemical Reporter. With this send in question Kate from Washington DC won an iPod Nano during our competition on www.young-germany.de

It is full of energy in a very handy size - a battery fits into every portable electric device. But what is exactly happening between a plus and a minus pole and how does energy begin to flow? Our Chemical Reporter will explain the secret of battery power. With this send in question Thomas from London won an iPod Nano during our competition on www.young-germany.de.

You can drink saltwater from the sea, but it will not quench your thirst. It not only makes you feel ill but you literally die of thirst. Our Chemical Reporter will explain why.

The chemical compound consisting of nitrogen and oxygen is called nitrous oxide or N₂O. But why it also is called "laughing gas" explains our Chemical Reporter. With this send in question Sode Kiran in Bangalore, India won an iPod Nano during our actual competition on www.young-germany.de.

What could be nicer than laying on the beach in the sun and being lazy? An extensive sun bath is everything but recuperation for our skin. How can sunscreen protect us? With this send in question Lydia from Munich won an iPod Nano during our competition on www.young-germany.de.