Do the Chemistry Boogie

The economy is in a tail spin and the weather here in the Northeast today is wet, windy and miserable. Fortunately, today’s blog tidbit takes us to tropical climes and might make us all feel a little bit warmer:

Researchers at the University of Hawaii recently came up with a most unlikely combination–chemistry and boogie boarding. The scientists have engineered a small solar “reactor” into a boogie board, harnessing the sun’s energy to convert carbon-based molecules into different forms of Vitamin A.

The study authors write, “That such a very green approach to photochemical reactions could be carried out in a single surfing session, while using the Pacific Ocean as the heat sink, has added an obvious fun component to the photochemical project. ”

Totally, bro.

The authors are unclear about how the final product of the chemical reaction will actually be used. But we do know they are certainly going to have fun making it.

Also on Scienceline:

Christopher Intagliata writes about trysts in a tidepool.

Rachel Mahan explores the chemistry of stretchy ice cream.