Who Is Anne Helmenstine?

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 1 person | Log in to rate

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Azareal aka Anne Helmenstine

Hi! I'm Anne Helmenstine, known to online readers as Anne, Dr. Helmenstine, or Azareal, depending on how you know me.


I wrote this bio to support my Squidoo lenses, but I'm finding it's a handy way to share photos and updates with friends and a one-stop spot for me to find my own online content.

What's New in Chemistry 

I'm self-employed, but most of my working time is devoted to About.com. Much of the original content on the Internet is written by the Guides at About. These are my latest blog headlines.

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Anne's Flickr Photos 

Here are some photos of a trip to Hawaii (2007). I take pictures literally every day, but I sort of slack as far as uploading them.

samry by azareal

Sam and Ry perched on a rock on Kilauea's crater.

treeferns by azareal

These are some tree ferns near a lava tube on Kilauea. They are very cool, found...

waikoloa2 by azareal

Here's a better picture of this beach (Waikoloa)..

waipiohorse by azareal

This is a baby wild horse that Sam and I saw in Waipio Valley. The wild horses a...

hotel by azareal

This is the view from the hotel. Yep, pretty sweet.

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Who Am I? 

I'm a scientist, trained in interdisciplinary research. Biology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, programming, math... all that great stuff. I just call it 'science'. I don't consider myself specialized in any one scientific discipline.


I'm a professional writer. My main contract is with About.com writing about chemistry. It's incredibly fun, plus they pay me.


I've had other jobs. I have additional interests. I had a successful company as a jewelry designer for a few years. I'm a college professor and research scientist, on-and-off. I compose music. I spend much of my free time in the ocean.

Anne's Featured Squidoo Lenses 

featured lens How to Grow Crystals

Anyone can grow their own crystals. It's fun, easy, and educational. You don't need to buy a kit or any unusual chemicals to grow great crystals. The only materials you need are ones you probably already have at home. Let's get started! [Photo: Coppe...

featured lens Free Jewelry Making Patterns

For a while, I made my living as a professional jewelrymaker. I made beaded jewelry and bead and wire jewelry, handknotted pearls, polished and set gems, and worked up some original patterns and designs. I find jewelrymaking to be relaxing, plus I ge...

featured lens Science Fair Volcanoes

Chemical volcanoes are a fun and safe way to model real volcanoes and examine the processes that occur during a volcanic eruption. Get safe and easy instructions for making your own chemical volcano, then get ideas for ways to make the volcano into a...

featured lens How to Make Rock Candy

Making your own rock candy is a great way to grow your own crystals, plus you get to eat what you make. You can add colors and flavors or make crystals of pure sugar. Photo: Douglas Whitaker

My YouTube Videos 

Make Glowing Water

It's easy to make water glow very brightly under a black light. You can use the water as an ingredient in slime, crystals, or other projects to make them glow-in-the-dark.

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More YouTube Videos 

Here are some of my YouTube videos.

Slime Tutorial

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Dry Ice Bubble

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Milk & Food Coloring Science Project

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Glow in the Dark Mentos Fountain

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Green Fire Jack-o-Lantern

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Mad Scientist Potion - Glows, Fizzes, Smokes

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Anne's Favorite Dragon Image

Azareal (Blogspot) 

This is a new blog, intended to showcase jewelrymaking projest that used to appear on my Allinfoabout site (RIP Allinfoabout) and science projects that aren't quite... advisable.

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Pawleys Island, SC - My Favorite Beach

Azareals Weblog (Wordpress) 

This is the blog I use the most. I mainly post photos and projects.

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Questions or comments about this lens or Dr. Helmenstine?

by Azareal

Hi. I'm Dr. Anne Helmenstine, scientist, author, and mom. I write and edit About.com's Chemistry Website, which covers general chemistry, science proj... (more)

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