Special Video Report

Courtesy: National Science Foundation, NBC-Learn and The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)



Just in time for the summer barbecue season, NBC Learn, the educational arm of NBC News, has teamed up with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) to produce Cheeseburger Chemistry, a weekly, online, video series.


Read more about the project

Watch a video by clicking on it below


Cheeseburger Chemistry: The Bun

"Cheeseburger Chemistry: The Bun" uses bread making to illustrate and explain how yeast works to convert starches and sugars in flour to CO2 gas (fermentation); effects of heat on gas and gluten protein structures.

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Cheeseburger Chemistry: The Burger

"The Chemistry of Burgers" outlines myoglobin protein structures and their chemical changes when exposed to heat -- part of what turns a patty of red, raw ground beef into a tasty brown burger.

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Cheeseburger Chemistry: Cheese

"The Chemistry of Cheese" uses cheese-making to explain protein denaturing, coagulation, and the difference between chemical and physical change.

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Cheeseburger Chemistry: The Tomato

"Cheeseburger Chemistry: The Tomato" outlines the role ethylene plays in ripening tomatoes (and other fruits); the role of lycopene in color change; and diffusion of gas.

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Cheeseburger Chemistry: Pickles

You don't see it, but a battle of bacteria rages on in cucumbers. How a briny solution tips the scales to one particular species and keeps the fruit edible for a long, long time.

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The Chemistry of Condiments: Ketchup, Mustard and Mayo

Two of these items are suspensions, and other is a colloidal dispersion. What's the difference? After a time, you have to stir one of them.

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Distributed by NIEonline.com with permission


About NBC Learn

NBC Learn is the educational arm of NBC News dedicated to providing resources for students, teachers, and lifelong learners. The online resources NBC Learn has created for the education community leverages nearly 80 years of historic news coverage, documentary materials, and current news broadcasts. Currently two unique offerings, iCue and NBC News Archives on Demand, give students and teachers access to thousands of video clips from the NBC News archives, including great historic moments--from the Great Depression to the Space Race to the latest political coverage. NBC Learn also offers primary source materials, lesson plans and classroom planning resources, and additional text and image resources from our content partners.


About the National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, its budget is about $6.9 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives over 45,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.


About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), www.nsta.org, is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA's current membership includes more than 58,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.


Additional Resources

NBC-Learn | National Science Foundation


NBC News Video Archives on Demand