In 2006, John Omabagho’s fields were overrun with Ostrinia nubilalis, the European corn borer. His local agriculture commission introduced

him to the chemical cyfluthrin. In low doses, cyfluthrin is deadly to insects but harmless to humans. Sunlight and air breakdown the

molecule in days, but that’s all the time it needs to get the job done. The chemical saved his crop and his farm. It also saved your tortilla chips.

a saved his farm

chemical

There’s a chemical for just about everything.

flickr user treesftf, CC-BY

a saved my sex life

chemical

I always knew I might be getting into trouble by marrying a man thirty years my senior, but we make a great pair. Last year, when he starting

having trouble maintaining erections, his self-esteem took a nosedive and I was left more than a little frustrated. That’s when we turned to the

chemical Vardenafil. (You probably know it better as Levitra.) My husband quickly returned to being a tiger in the sack, and I’ve certainly got no

complaints. Thanks to a chemical, our chemistry has never been better.

Kelly S.Evansville, IN

Flickr user tonyj19, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0