Blood Sweat and Tears (GlaxoSmithKline)

It only seems fair that as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) continue to produce ever more images for their anti-doping advertising campaign, that I should try to keep up with them.

Their latest and final range, "Blood, Sweat and Tears," now features with two Olympic gold medal winners, Beth Tweddle and Sophie Troiano.  GSK have even put them on their own Flickr site. They've drawn some criticism (in fact, the whole range has) for their inaccurate usage of chemistry, and in some cases, totally nonsensical chemistry in their advertising, but I'm still happy to keep parodying them, in an affectionate but not pedantic way.   Having said that, it does seem strange that a multinational chemical and pharmaceutical company hasn't bothered to display its scientific knowledge in its advertising, and has left the science to a group of non-scientific marketing folks.

It is worth pointing out that GSK is the Official Laboratory Services Provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but that they are not actually carrying out the testing - just providing the facilities. These labs, facilities and equipment are provided to enable expert analysts from King's College to independently operate a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory during the Olympic Games.

After that brief aside, here is what will probably be my final poster, celebrating the vast majority of non-Olympians who also believe in training, running and playing sports in a doping-free environment.  It's meant to be humorous, not political, and I'm not trying to promote or discredit any manufacturers of anything in particular (such as 'high-energy' soft drinks).

Chemistry Advertising: GlaxoSmithKline Chemistry Again

I'd like to follow up on my previous post about how GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have recently been promoting their anti-doping testing technology for the Olympic games.  They've done this with some very impressive 'chemistry' adverts featuring British athletes. 

 Now that the athletes are winning medals, they've changed the message to one about 'blood, sweat and tears', see below (taken from GSK's FB page) :

After my first set of chemistry images based on GlaxoSmithKline's advertis, I think it's only fair that I try to keep pace with these new developments, so I've produced a few more of my own.  They're designed to recognise those of us who aren't Olympic standard athletes, but who still believe in drug-free sports and improving our performances through hard work and practice.  What do you think?

Chemistry Advertising: Glaxo Smith Kline

A different slant on Chemistry cartoons this time.  I've recently noticed (with enjoyment) that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have recently been promoting their anti-doping testing technology for the Olympic games.  They've done this with some very impressive 'chemistry' adverts featuring British athletes (some of them medal winners).  GSK have put these on their Facebook page, and so I've borrowed them, and produced some of my own alternatives.


Mine aren't meant to be offensive, just comical parodies.  I'm not intending to criticise GSK, just borrow their 'chemical plus picture' motif.  I'm not even going to criticise the chemistry of the 'molecules' they've designed... I'm just going to smile and participate in the chemistry advertising as well.


Here are GSK's (taken from their FB page) :

And here, just to raise a smile for the 'every man' who also doesn't believe in taking drugs to enhance his performance, are mine.

What do you think?

Chemistry 2: A rant at pseudo-science adverts

"The only toothpaste with liquid calcium to strengthen your teeth"
"When a car brakes, some of the energy it produces is lost"
"Anti-perspirant with silver molecules"
"Contains pro-oxylane to give your hair extra shine"

Don't get me started on pseudo-science in television adverts.  The voice-over begins, sounding professional, authentic and a leading authority on all things scientific.  The picture zooms in with hexagons flying around all over the place, and stick-and-ball-model molecules start being absorbed into your hair, skin and teeth.

What is it with the hexagons anyway?  Do these chemicals contain honey from a honeycomb?  Do the treatments contain a hexagonal molecule, like benzene (causes cancer, leukemia and is fatal if absorbed in even small doses) or cyclohexane, say (harmful if inhaled or swallowed)?  Perhaps "hexagons" means "scientifically clever", and not "very dangerous".  Still, just watch a TV advert for the latest shampoo or face cream and count the hexagons.  Double your score if the hexagons are gold-coloured or shiny.

Liquid calcium, featured recently in a toothpaste advert (and an advert which thankfully has not been seen recently) is an interesting concept.  Calcium is a metal, and as is generally know, metals have high melting points; in the case of calcium, you have to heat it up to 842 to 848°C in order to melt it.  Now, if toothpaste actually contains liquid calcium, I wouldn't want to put it in my mouth - in fact I wouldn't want to hold the toothpaste tube (and I wouldn't even want to contemplate squeezing the tube, which would have to be made of something other than the typical plastic material).  Still, I'm glad the advert was taken off air.  The truth (a strange concept for advertising, I accept) is that it will contain a calcium compound in an emulsion.  It's a bit like saying that the sea is liquid salt:  interesting, but patently untrue.  Actually, a closer comparison would be to say that the sea is liquid chlorine: dramatic and thankfully untrue.

Next:  silver molecules in anti-perspirant.  Yes, some anti-perspirants contain some molecules that contain a silver ion in a larger molecule.  Here's an example of one such anti-perspirant and for those paying attention, please note the shapes on the front of the can.  The advert for the anti-perspirant features a silver truncated icosahedron - another scientific shape that's not relevant here - that strongly suggests that the product contains a molecule composed entirely and uniquely of silver atoms.

Silver molecule?  Or just a football?

The truth about 'silver molecules' is much more prosaic; the compound in question is probably a variation of the molecule silver sulfadiazine, which, incidentally also contains sulphur - again, not something you'll hear in  advert.  Here's silver sulfadiazine - I figured it was time for a diagram with some genuine scientific basis.  The silver ion is shown by the Ag+ as the chemical symbol for silver is Ag (from the Latin argentum, which also provides the French argent).

Next time, I'll look at made-up scientific names - if only for the fun of it.  Pro-xylane, AHAs, nutrileum, pentapeptides and the rest of it.  In the meantime, should advertisers use proper science?  Probably not.  Will they?  No.  Why not?  Because they're not worth it.