On a spring morning scented with coffee and flowers, chemistry quietly gets to work. In Everyday Molecules, familiar moments - waking up, reading a message, eating a banana - become gateways to a hidden world where tiny structures shape our senses, emotions and technologies. Nobel laureate Ben Feringa and fellow chemist Anouk Lubbe discuss the most important molecules in our immediate environment. From caffeine's chemical spark to the sunlight-harvesting magic of a poppy, this book reveals how deeply molecules are woven into daily life.
With curiosity and clarity, the book connects the ordinary to the extraordinary, for example reflecting on water and a poisonous gas only differing by a single atom, ethylene - both a natural hormone that makes bananas ripe and a vital component in the production of plastics - and the liquid crystals lighting up today's screens. Each chapter begins with real experiences and follows them down to their molecular foundations.
This book invites readers to see the world from a fresh perspective - to understand how a small set of elements create endless possibilities, challenges and beauty. Providing the first, inspiring steps into the universal language of chemistry, it includes an open invitation to discover your own favourite molecule.