Today marks the birthday of Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (1794-1867), a German analytical chemist. Runge identified the mydriatic (pupil-dilating) effects of belladonna extract, identified caffeine, and discovered the first coal tar dye. See this Google Doodle from 2019 for more facts about Runge. Caffeine is "the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug. Unlike many other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all parts of the world." (Wikipedia) My own favorite caffeine-bearing drink is hot chocolate, which has about 10% of the caffeine concentration in coffee. Our mug helps us remember the chemical structure of caffeine!
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