Why the Watermelon Won't Ripen in Your Armpit: And Other Science Conundrums

Written with authority, wit, and a zany sense of humor, this book gives scientific answers to questions such as: Is it safe to cook in aluminum saucepans?; How do they make lipstick?, Is it safer to breathe the air inside or outside?; and Do you know the chemicals in your kitchen cabinets? The science of everyday conundra from the intriguing to the bizarre is explained in easy-to-understand language and through fascinating anecdotes about real-life experiences. Informative and entertaining, this book opens up a giant box of facts for the science literate and nonliterate alike.

Ben Selinger is a retired professor of chemistry, the author of Chemistry in the Marketplace, and host of "Dial a Scientist," a science talkback program on ABC Radio. He also writes a regular science column, "Why Is It?."