A Shirt About Personal Chemistry, Perspective, and Seeing Only What You Want to See
Designed by Frankenstein Bio Reagents. Illustrated by a 10-year-old.
THE IDEA
This T-shirt was designed by FB Reagents, a manufacturer of stable isotope-labeled biochemicals, which help scientists see only parts of their favorite molecule — and ignore the rest. It seems that everyone has a favorite molecule, and a unique perspective, shaped by their life experience and personal chemistry.
The T-shirt is part of a drive to support The Pink House, a charity which helps people who experience homelessness and addiction in Sofia, Bulgaria. From our (admittedly biased) perspective as scientists, the path to healthy personal chemistry is paved with education and social inclusion, not prohibition and punishment.
EVERYONE HAS A FAVORITE MOLECULE
The characters on the T-shirt were drawn by the founder’s 10-year-old daughter, and each is under the influence of a molecule. Can you identify the molecules? Here’s some hints:
A teenage boy is skating recklessly. His grandmother is worried he would break his head, but enjoys the cardiovascular effects of being worried. A police officer rewards the skater with a ticket – and himself with a quick chemical boost. Nearby, a little girl energetically jumps into a puddle, while her mother looks on with affection. Her father doesn’t notice, lost in a smokey cloud of contemplation.
The answers are at the bottom of the page.
THE PINK HOUSE
A Place Where People Can Find Support Without Being Judged
The Pink House is a low-threshold centre in Sofia for people experiencing addiction and social exclusion. It provides practical support to people who need it most — including food, basic hygiene, medical support, and help accessing treatment and other services.
The Pink House has been managed by the Center for Humane Policy since June 2019 and continues to rely heavily on donations to keep its work going.
Donate to support those who chose the wrong molecule
The original owner of this T-shirt either guessed the molecules correctly, or made a donation to The Pink House.
ALL MOLECULES WERE CREATED EQUAL
THE REVEAL
Did You Figure Them Out?
Testosterone
The teenager skating a wave of testosterone.
Adrenaline
The worried grandmother enjoying the cardiovascular benefits of adrenaline.
Dopamine
The policeman rewarding the teen with a ticket (and himself with a squirt of dopamine).
Sucrose
The child wading in a puddle of sucrose.
Oxytocin
The mother overcome with oxytocin.
Nicotine
The father immersed in nicotine contemplation.
SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE
Better Tools for Better Science
At FB Reagents, we create high-quality stable isotope labeled biochemicals to help researchers focus on what matters.
