Science on crack, 4: The town that went insane

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In August of 1951, a strange epidemic struck the sleepy little town of Pont-Saint-Esprit in France. Over the course of a single day, hundreds of people lost their minds. A little boy tried to strangle his grandmother. A man realized … Continue reading →

Science on crack, 3: When heroin was a drug you gave your children

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Guns ‘n Roses were infamous for their offstage antics, antics which inspired some of their most famous songs. “Mr. Brownstone” is a song about heroin, a drug with which GnR was very familiar, and the lyrics nicely illustrate why the drug … Continue reading →

Science on crack, 2: Walter White & cooking crystal meth

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How many TV shows can you name that star a chemist as hero and feature references to reductive amination? I can think of only one. Breaking Bad is by far and away my favorite show on TV. It’s got a truly … Continue reading →

Science on crack: the chemistry of illegal drugs, 1

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We all know that drugs like heroin, meth and cocaine have ruined a lot of lives. That isn’t (or shouldn’t) be news. And yet despite their dire effects, the science and the stories behind these drugs is sort of fascinating nonetheless. They’re sort of like … Continue reading →