Chemicals are all around us, always, and always have been. We are made of chemicals, indeed chemicals R Us. The plants we eat are also full of chemicals. But how does the body deal with these chemicals and what do they do to us?

At the next Cafe Scientifique John Timbrell will dispel some myths: chemicals are not only man made and not all of the chemicals made by man are dangerous and not all of the chemicals found naturally are safe. Some people will say that there must be a difference between things made by chemists in laboratories and things found in nature? It is true, there are differences, natural chemicals are often more complex and chemists find some very difficult to make!  For example DNA and proteins are extremely complex. But surely man made chemicals must be more poisonous?

This is just one of the questions posed by John Timbrell at the next Cafe Scientifique. He will also discuss whether potent poisons can be useful. Are chemicals good or bad? What is the Poison Paradox?

Come and join in the discussion of how and when chemicals are toxic, whether we can use chemicals safely and explore this paradox.

On 19 October at 5 pm at Kloostri Ait in Tallinn