How Curiosity Shapes Our Everyday Lives
Chemistry isn’t just something that happens in a lab, it’s all around us, shaping our daily lives. From the toothpaste we use in the morning to the phones in our pockets, chemistry is constantly at work in ways we often take for granted.
At Rossall School, we want our pupils to see these connections. Take a typical morning routine: brushing your teeth? The fluoride in toothpaste protects enamel at the molecular level. Eating toast or cereal for breakfast? The golden crunch comes from the Maillard reaction, a chemical process that enhances flavour. Even that morning cup of tea or coffee? Caffeine affects brain chemistry to help us feel more alert and it doesn’t stop there, glow sticks, hair dye, slime, cosmetics, and even phone batteries are all everyday examples of chemistry in action. It’s hard to imagine a single day without it.
But the real magic of chemistry lies in curiosity, the ability to ask “why?” and “what if?”
For example, William Perkin, at just 18 years old, accidentally created a purple sludge while trying to make medicine. Instead of throwing it away, he investigated further. That experiment led to the invention of synthetic dyes, which revolutionised fashion. Marie Curie asked why certain rocks glowed, and her curiosity about radioactivity laid the foundation for medical treatments that save lives today.
Closer to home, scientists in Manchester once asked whether a material could be stronger than steel yet thinner than paper. Their curiosity led to the discovery of graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Despite being only one atom thick, graphene is incredibly strong, flexible, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Today, researchers are exploring its potential in faster electronics, advanced medical devices, stronger sports equipment, and even clean water solutions.
At Rossall, we believe encouraging children to notice the world around them and ask questions, just like these scientists, is key to developing creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Some of the greatest discoveries have come from seeing ordinary things in a new way. Edward Jenner noticed that milkmaids who had cowpox didn’t get smallpox, and that simple observation led to the creation of vaccines, which have saved millions of lives. Non-stick pans were invented when a chemist spotted a slippery residue on lab equipment and wondered if it could be useful. And the microwave oven? It was inspired by a chocolate bar melting in a scientist’s pocket near radar equipment!
These stories highlight the importance of curiosity, observation, and imagination, skills we nurture every day at Rossall School. Chemistry isn’t just about what we already know; it’s also about shaping the future. Imagine phone screens that can repair themselves, sustainable fuels that reduce pollution, or lab-grown meat that provides healthier, more ethical food options. Biodegradable plastics are being developed to protect our oceans, and personalised medicines are being designed to work precisely where they’re needed in the body. All of these innovations began with a simple question.
It is a wonderful reminder for our Rossall pupils that chemistry isn’t confined to the lab, it’s in their food, their fun, and their future, and who knows? The next big discovery might not come from a famous scientist in a distant laboratory, but from a curious Rossall pupil daring to ask, “What if?”
Mrs Clare Cohen, Assistant Head Transition & Year 7
