These pioneering women were behind some of history’s greatest discoveries, from the greenhouse effect and nuclear fission to the structure of DNA and breakthrough leprosy treatment.

When the last blue pigment was discovered, Thomas Jefferson was in the White House. The recent creation of YInMn blue is a thrilling tale complete with expletives, accidents and invisible abilities. Just ask chemist and materials scientist Mas Subramanian.

Chemist Rebecca Abergel and her colleagues have found a way to remove radioactive contaminants from the body. Now they are trying to put their solution in a pill.

For Sissel Tolaas, even the liveliest city may be a “blandscape.” Here, the chemist shares thoughts on why, for her, smell is the most important sense.

Would you like to learn more about every single element on the periodic table? We’ve got you covered

Theoretical physicist (and TED Fellow) Shohini Ghose shares 5 facts about female physicists.

“Like snowflakes, no two pieces of wood can be the same anywhere on earth,” says architect Michael Green in his lyrical TED talk, “Why we should build wooden skyscrapers,” in which he lays out his thesis for designing and engineering the world’s tallest buildings from one of its oldest materials. “Mother Nature has fingerprints in […]