![Bee on flower covered in pollen](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-06/pollen-covered_bee_on_flower.jpg?itok=sdTi3kzW)
Pollinators are Important!
STEM Explained
Insects and other animals that are pollinators of plants play an important role in ecosystems.
![Hands holding soil and a small plant](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-05/hand_holding_soil.jpg?itok=xzFFVzDb)
The Dirt on Soil Conservation
STEM Explained
If I asked you to name a few things that all life on the planet couldn’t live without you could probably come up with some good answers, but I bet you’d never think to say dirt.
![Field of tobacco plants, which are a source of nicotine](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-04/field_of_tobacco_plants.jpg?itok=BE-oEUDd)
How do alkaloids cause addiction?
STEM Explained
Alkaloids are found in some of the most addictive substances that humans consume. What are alkaloids, and how do they cause addiction?
![Algae floating on a pond](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-03/algae_on_pond.jpg?itok=Wr4KBShh)
Algae Biofuel: Can Pond Scum Power the Planet?
STEM Explained
Learn about the potential of algae as a material for making biofuel.
![Pamela Livingston | Biologiste de terrain](/sites/default/files/styles/career_image/public/2019-09/Pam-pic1.jpg?itok=1BZUMkx8)
Pamela Livingston
Field Biologist
![Blue whale swimming](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-10/Blue_whale.jpg?itok=jItzw1qc)
Can Whales Really Explode?
STEM Explained
When deceased whales wash up on shore, people fear they might explode. Gas laws, decomposition reactions and organic chemistry can help us understand this fear.
![Browning apple](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-03/Browning_apple.jpg?itok=0ChBaFX8)
Why Do Apples Turn Brown After You Cut Them?
STEM Explained
Has your fresh juicy apple turned an unsightly brown? Learn about the redox reaction behind the transformation.
![Hamilton Street Railway bus in downtown Hamilton, Ontario © Adam E. Moreira [CC BY-SA 3.0], Wikimedia Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-08/Hamilton%20Street%20Railway%20bus%20in%20downtown%20Hamilton%2C%20Ontario%20%C2%A9%20Adam%20E.%20Moreira.jpg?itok=1ZSDJMZQ)
Fueling Internal Combustion Engines
Backgrounders
Learn about the wide variety of fuels used in vehicles.
![Suffering from a hangover](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-11/suffering_from_a_hangover.jpg?itok=6Wjz2McS)
Why Do People Get Hangovers?
STEM Explained
Why does drinking too much alcohol make people feel so bad? Read about four theories.
![Biofuel concept](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-09/biofuel-concept.jpg?itok=mGz1FUEJ)
What are the Pros and Cons of Ethanol Biofuel?
STEM Explained
Biofuels like ethanol might help fight climate change. But they can contribute to food insecurity and greenhouse gases in ways that might surprise you.
![A set of lipstick in various colours](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2020-02/Assortment_of_lipsticks.png?itok=z_U-KbdM)
The Chemistry of Lipstick
STEM Explained
Learn about the organic compounds that make up lipstick as well as about some of the chemistry that goes into this popular cosmetic.
![Soapy hands](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-10/soapy_hands.jpg?itok=22VihjnH)
Stupendous Suds
STEM Explained
Every time you wash your hands with soap, there are complex chemical reactions taking place.
![plastic food containers, trays and food packaging made from polystyrene](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-09/plastic_food_containers.png?itok=0wdulBKp)
Polystyrene: The Pros, the Cons, the Chemistry
STEM Explained
Learn the organic chemistry behind this very useful plastic. Why is recycling polystyrene hard? Why does polystyrene often end up as solid waste?
![Pavlova meringue with fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-11/pavlova-meringue-cake.jpg?itok=M8OvVyBu)
Meringue: The Science Behind a Wonderfully Fluffy Dessert
STEM Explained
Learn about the biochemistry of cooking meringue.
![Electronic cigarette and traditional cigarettes](/sites/default/files/styles/resource_card_image_360x300_/public/2019-09/man-holding-electronic-cigarette.jpg?itok=Mx6yukyD)
Is Vaping Safer Than Smoking?
STEM Explained
Learn how e-cigarettes and other vaping products work, and why scientists and health professionals have concerns about their safety.