rotating aspirin moleculeMolecule of the Month Home Page

Welcome to the Molecule of the Month page!

Each month a new molecule will be added to the list on this page. The links will take you to a page at one of the Web sites at a University Chemistry Department or commercial site in the UK, the US, or anywhere in the world, where useful (and hopefully entertaining!), information can be found about a particularly interesting molecule.

If you wish to contribute a Molecule of the Month page, just email me the URL and I'll add you to the list at the next opportunity. (There's generally a 2-3 month waiting list, so this gives you plenty of time to write and polish your page).

What do I need to see the pages properly?

See here for all the details of software and helper files you require...

See here for a list of the awards and citations received by this page, and a disclaimer.

Here is an alphabetical list of all the molecules, or you can use the chronological table below:

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Date Molecule
HTML only (H), Chime (C),
VRML (V) or Java (J, JM) versions
Contributor Location
Nov 2009 Citalopram (H,C,V,JM)
A new treatment for depression
Benjamin Rawe and Paul May Bristol University
Oct 2009 Strychnine (H,C,V,JM)
The performance enhancing deadly poison
Paul M. Burnham Greenhead College,, Huddersfield, UK
September 2009 Anandamide (H,C,V,JM)
The molecule of extreme pleasure.
Sujit Kumar Kar S.K. Foundation,
Orissa, India
August 2009 Geosmin (H,C,V,JM)
The smell of the countryside.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
July 2009 Cyanoacrylate (H,C,V,JM)
Superglue!
Sarwat Baig University of Bristol
June 2009 Teflon (PTFE) (H,C,V,JM)
The non-stick coating on frying pans.
Layth Hendow Hull Collegiate School,
Yorkshire, UK
May 2009 Bombykol (H,C,V,JM)
The sex pheromone of the silk moth.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
April 2009 Retinal (H,C,V,JM)
The molecule of vision
Joshua Howgego and Paul May University of Bristol
March 2009 Hydrogen Sulphide (H,C,V,JM)
The smell of rotten eggs.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
February 2009 Indigotin (H,C,V,JM)
The dye used to colour blue jeans
Richard Marsh and Paul May University of Bristol
January 2009 Oxytocin (H,C,V,JM)
The molecule involved in pregnancy, breastfeeding and sexual fidelity!
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
December 2008 Taurine (H,C,V,JM)
The stimulant in the 'energy drink' Red Bull - but does it give you wings?
Richard Marsh and Paul May University of Bristol
November 2008 2-Methylundecanal (H,C,V,JM)
The smell of Chanel No.5 perfume.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
Oct 2008 Dopamine (H,C,V,JM)
The neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and well-being
Sian Gregory and Paul M. Burnham Hillsborough College, Sheffield, UK
Sept 2008 Uric acid (H,C,V,JM)
The molecule that causes gout and kidney stones, and is found in bird droppings
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
August 2008 Folic Acid (H,C,V,JM)
A necessary ingredient for building DNA, cells and babies.
Dominic Taylor and Paul May University of Bristol
July 2008 Isoprene (H,C,V,JM)
The building block for terpenes and rubber, and the molecule that makes the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, blue.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
June 2008 Histamine (H,C,V,JM)
The molecule associated with immune response, allergies and hayfever.
Michael Charles Hatch and Paul May University of Bristol
May 2008 Sulfuric acid (H,C,V,JM)
The acid that's the 'King of Chemicals'
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
April 2008 Sulphur Hexafluoride(H,C,V,JM)
The unreactive gas that's found in electrical insulation, trainers and double-glazing.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
March 2008 Limonene(H,C,V,JM)
The industrial degreasing agent found in orange peel.
Paul M. Burnham Hillsborough College,
Sheffield, UK
February 2008 Vanillin(H,C,V,JM)
The flavour of vanilla icecream.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
January 2008 Herceptin (H)
The controversial drug used to treat breast cancer.
Amy Dyke University of Bristol
December 2007 Methane(H,C,V,JM)
The greenhouse gas that cooks our food.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
November 2007 Nitric Acid (H,C,V,JM)
The starting point for explosives and fertilisers.
Paul May University of Bristol
October 2007 Nitroglycerine(H,C,V,JM)
The explosive component in dynamite.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
September 2007 Propanethial S-oxide(H,C,V,JM)
The molecule that makes you cry when peeling onions.
Paul M. Burnham Hillsborough College,
Sheffield, UK
August 2007 Menthol(H,C,V,JM)
The cooling smell of mint.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
July 2007 Monosodium Glutamate (H,C,JM,V)
The molecule that enhances taste in food.
Pio MontiKings College School, Madrid, Spain
June 2007 Lutein and Zeaxanthin (H,C,JM)
The chemistry and biology of the colourful carotenoids we eat as food, or which make the pigments in songbirds' feathers
James D. JohnsonAlumnus, Department of Chemistry, Florida State University
May 2007 Acetyl Coenzyme-A (H,C,V,JM)
The molecule that makes fats, or burns them
Paul May University of Bristol
April 2007 Glucose (H,C,V,JM)
The sugary source of energy for plants and animals
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
March 2007 Methamphetamine(H,C,V,JM)
The pick-me-up also known as 'speed'.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
February 2007 Sodium Thiopental (Sodium Pentothal) (H,C,V,JM)
The 'Truth Serum' used in many spy movies.
Adriano Taylor King´s College, Madrid, Spain
January 2007 Prostanoic Acid and Prostagladins (H,C,V,JM)
Important natural molecules that resemble hormones and have a range of biological effects.
Paul May University of Bristol
December 2006 Ethene(H,C,V,JM)
The anaesthetic gas that's used to make polythene
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
November 2006 Pentacene(H)
The p-type organic semiconductor which can be used to make organic electronics.
Fabio Pichierri Tohoku University,
Sendai, Japan
October 2006 Chloroform(H,C,V,JM)
The anaesthetic and solvent
Stephen Belding University of Oxford
September 2006 Hydrogen Peroxide(H,C,V,JM)
Rocket fuel and bleached blondes...
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
August 2006 Cinnamaldehyde (H,C,V,JM)
The smell and taste of the spice cinnamon.
Paul M. Burnham Hillsborough College,
Sheffield, UK
July 2006 Tamiflu (H,JM)
The anti-flu drug that might protect us froma bird-flu epidemic
Emily Campbell University of Bristol
June 2006 The Manganese-calcium oxide cluster of Photosystem II
(The Oxygen Evolving Complex)
(H,C)
The complex that cyanobacteria use to split water, release oxygen, and which helped start life on Earth.
James D. Johnson Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
May 2006 Linoleic Acid (H,C,V,JM)
The vegetable oil that's used to make margarine
Paul May University of Bristol
April 2006 Skatole(H,C,V,JM)
The smell of human excrement
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
March 2006 Cucurbituril(H,C,V,JM)
A pumpkin-shaped molecule
Fabio Pichierri Tohoku University,
Sendai, Japan
Feb 2006 Hemoglobin (H,C,V,JM)
The oxygen-carrying molecule found in blood
Paul May University of Bristol
January 2006 Batrachotoxin (H,C,V,JM)
The poison found on the skin of Amazonian frogs
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
December 2005 Formic Acid (Methanoic Acid)(H,C,V,JM)
The poison from ants and stinging nettles
Mathieu Laffitte Freelance writer, France
November 2005 Carbon Monoxide (H,C,V,JM)
The poisonous gas from car exhausts
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
October 2005 Dimethylsulphide (H,C,V,JM)
The smell of truffles
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
September 2005 Dioxin (H)
The pollutant that caused the Seveso disaster
Fabio Pichierri Tohoku University,
Sendai, Japan
August 2005 Linezolid (H)
A new type of oxazolidinone antibiotic
Rafal Klajn Northwestern University, USA
July 2005 Quinine (H,C,V,JM)
The anti-malarial drug that's found in gin and tonic
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
June 2005 Dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon) (H)
Freon gas, the CFC refrigerant that damages the ozone layer.
Aaron Vorderstrasse Western Oregon University
Monmouth, Oregon, USA
May 2005 British Anti-Lewisite (H)
The chelating molecule that's used to treat heavy metal poisoning.
Domingo Tabangcura, Jr. and
G. Patrick Daubert, MD
Regional Poison Control Center,
Wayne State University Children’s Hospital of Michigan,
Detroit, USA
April 2005 Serotonin (H,C)
A molecule of happiness.
Claire Rosling University of Bristol
March 2005 Hexenal(H,C,V,JM)
The key aroma substance emitted when grass is cut.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
Feb 2005 Galactosylceramide (H)
The chemical found in the brain which is a constituent of nerve cells and intestinal membranes - and which may be implicated in promoting diseases such as HIV.
Jacques Fantini, Nicolas Garmy,
Nadira Taieb and Nouara Yahi
Université Paul Cézanne
Marseille, France
Jan 2005 Arsine(H,C,V,JM)
The poisonous gas that was an important molecule in the history of forensic science.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School,
Rutland, UK
Dec 2004 Maleimide-Polyethylene Glycol (MPEG4) (H)
Modified human hemoglobin that can be used as a blood substitute.
Nancy Christy, Shane Haggard, Kimberly Lam,
Rachele Melious and Paula Theobald
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CA, USA
Nov 2004 Morphine (H)
The sedative and painkiller.
Enrico Uva LaurenHill Academy
Montreal, Canada
Oct 2004 Butane (H)
The fuel in portable cookers, and much more...
Feng Wang Swinburne University of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
Sept 2004 Ubiquitin (H)
A ubiquitous protein
Lukasz and Mariusz Jaremko Wroclaw University, Poland
Aug 2004 Trimethylamine (H,C,V,JM)
The cause of 'fish breath' in some people.
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
July 2004 Atenolol (H)
A beta-blocker drug used for treating high blood pressure and angina.
Ravi Bhandari Imperial College London
June 2004 Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) (H,C,V,JM)
The notorious 'date rape' drug.
Gemma Gaitskell Phillips and Paula Fitzgerald Kings College, Madrid, Spain
May 2004 Osmium Tetroxide (H,C,V,JM)
The useful chemical reagent that was recently called the "billionaire's chemical weapon"
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
Apr 2004 Cantharidin (H,C)
The 'Spanish Fly' aphrodisiac that's also a beetle defense chemical.
Gérard Dupuis & Nicole Berland Lycée Faidherbe, Lille, France.
Mar 2004 EDTA(H,C)
A molecule with a 'complex story', that's found in mayonnaise, beans and Big Macs.
Scott A. Sinex Prince George's Community College, Largo, MD, USA
Feb 2004 Combretastatin A-4 (H,C,V,JM)
A Zulu poison that can be used to treat cancer
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
Jan 2004 Rotenone (H,C)
An important piscicide and insecticide
Emma Castrique Bristol University
Dec 2003 Sulphur Dioxide (H,C,V,J,JM)
A major component of acid rain
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
Nov 2003 S-Adenosyl Methionine (H)
A biological methylating agent
Rich Blatchly Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire, USA
Oct 2003 Dimethyl Mercury (H,C,J,JM,V)
The toxic compound that caused the Minamata disaster
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
Sept 2003 Carnitine (H)
An acyl-carrying nursing biomolecule.
Hans R. Scholte Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Holland
Aug 2003 Fluoxetine (Prozac) (C)
The active ingredient behind the World's most widely used antidepressant drug.
Gemma Veitch Imperial College London
July 2003 Caeruloplasmin (H,C)
An enigmatic copper metalloprotein.
John Maher University of Bristol
June 2003 Pnictogen (H)
A group of materials that might be used to convert electricity into heat and vice versa.
David Bradley Freelance Science Writer
May 2003 N3 Amide Dyes (H)
A new way to make 'metallo-organic' solar cells
Jean-Jacques Lagref Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.
Apr 2003 Ketamine (H,C)
The notorious recreational drug
Tim Aldridge University of Bristol
Mar 2003 Ethyl Acetate (H,C,V,J)
The source of many natural odours
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
Feb 2003 Spidroin (H, C)
Spider silk and spider poisons
Vivienne Li Bristol University
Jan 2003 Arsenic Pentachloride, AsCl5 (H,C,V,J)
A molecule with unusual bonding
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
Dec 2002 Hemlock (Coniine) (H,C)
The poison that killed Socrates
John Huggins Thrybergh Comprehensive School, Rotherham, U.K
Nov 2002 Dettol (H,C,V,J)
The antiseptic cleaning fluid
Mike Thompson Winchester College, UK
Oct 2002 Epothilone (H)
A new anti-cancer drug
Audrey Barthelemy and Carole Christophe Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, France
Sept 2002 Ibogaine (H,C,V,J)
The anti-addiction drug
David Bradley Freelance Science Writer
Aug 2002 Uranium Hexafluoride, UF6 (H,C,V,J)
The source of uranium for nuclear power
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
July 2002 Alliin (H,C)
The chemistry of garlic
Eric Coleman University of Bristol
June 2002 Tryptophan (H)
The controversial food supplement
Kimberly Dick and Michel Hachey Advanced Chemistry Develpment, Toronto, Canada
May 2002 Etorphine (H,C,J,V)
An elephant tranquiliser
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
Apr 2002 Beta-Carotene (H,C)
The colour of carrots
Martha Evens University of Bristol
Mar 2002 Mifepristone (RU-486) (H)
The 'morning after' pill
Fyaz M.D. Ismail Dept of Pharmacy and Chemistry,
Liverpool John Moores University
Feb 2002 Atropine (H,C)
The muscle relaxant used in surgery
Sara Kennedy Armthorpe School, Doncaster, UK
Jan 2002 Relenza (H)
The anti-flu drug
Nikola Sanderson Imperial College London
Dec 2001 Nitrogen Triiodide (H,C,J,V)
The well-known explosive crystals
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
Nov 2001 Ibuprofen (H,C)
A painkiller
John Bower University of Bristol
Oct 2001 Tetracycline (H,C)
The anti-biotic
Rafal Klajn Institute of Organic Chemistry
PAN, Warsaw, Poland
Sept 2001 Methyl Jasmonate (H,C,J,V)
The smell of jasmine flowers
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland, UK
Aug 2001 Nicotine (H)
The addictive drug in tobacco
Muriel Fabre, Guillaume Bouchon, Sébastien Abry and Daniel Simon École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France
July 2001 VX gas (H,C)
The notorious nerve agent
Cavus Batki University of Bristol
June 2001 ClF3 (H,C,J,V)
Rocket fuel
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland
May 2001 Brassinolide (H,C,V,J)
The plant growth hormone
Martin A. Iglesias-ArteagaUniversity of Havana, Cuba
Apr 2001 Capsaicin (H,C,V)
The heat of chillis
Matthew BellringerUniversity of Bristol
Mar 2001 Frontalin (H,C)
A beetle signal pheremone
Gérard Dupuis and
Nicole Berland
Lycée Faidherbe, Lille, France.
Feb 2001 Aspartame (H,C,J,V)
A synthetic sweetener
D. Eric WaltersFinch University of Health Sciences
The Chicago Medical School
Chicago, USA
Jan 2001 Tetraethyl Lead (H,C,J,V)
The anti-knock agent in petroleum
Simon Cotton Uppingham School, Rutland
Dec 2000 2,4,5-T (Agent Orange) (H,C,V)
The notorious Vietnam War defoliant
John Hardy University of Bristol
Nov 2000 Bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) oxalate (DNPO) (H,C,J)
Light emitting chemicals
Daniel Ormsby University of Leeds
Oct 2000 Nandrolone (H,C,J,V)
The controversial anabolic steroid
Paul May University of Bristol
Sept 2000 ABT-594 and Epibatidine (H)
A painkiller
John Cameron and
Kathleen Brawley
University of Aberdeen
Aug 2000 Cisplatin (H,C,J)
The anti-cancer drug
Mitch Miller Symyx Technologies, USA
July 2000 Thalidomide (H)
The notorious morning sickness drug
Alex Lingham Bristol University
June 2000 Histrionicotoxin(H,C,J,V)
The frog poison used in blowpipe darts
Neil Edwards and Mark Reed Sussex University
May 2000 Chlorophyll (H,C,J,V)
The green colour of plants
Paul May Bristol University
Apr 2000 Melatonin (C)
The sleep-wake cycle regulating chemical
Salinthip Thipayang Imperial College London
Mar 2000 cis-g-Irone (H,C)
The violet-like scent of Iris oils used in perfumes
Jean-Marie Galano Université D'Aix-Marseille III, France
Feb 2000 Frankincense
(Boswellic Acid)
(H,C,J,V)
The Biblical fragrant gum resin
Gordon Docherty Bristol University
Jan 2000 DNA (H,C,J,V)
The genetic blueprint molecule
Paul May Bristol University
Dec 1999 Tamoxifen (H,C)
The anti-cancer drug
Huw Tanner Imperial College London
Nov 1999 Tetrodotoxin (H,C,V,J)
The poison in puffer fish
Jim Johnson 3D Biochem, USA
Oct 1999 Psilocybin and Mescaline
(H,C,V,J)
The hallucinogen in 'magic mushrooms'
Paul May Bristol University
Sept 1999 Anatoxin(H,C,V,J)
A toxin extracted from algae
Neil Edwards Sussex University
Aug 1999 Salbutamol(C)
The anti-asthma treatment
Jerome Hettich Imperial College London
July 1999 Zyban (Bupropion)(H)
The treatment for nicotine addiction
Bernard Blessington
and Jamie Harris
University of Bradford
June 1999 Nitrous oxide(H,C,J,V)
Laughing gas
Ewan Cameron
and Paul May
University of Bristol
May 1999 Adrenaline(H,C,J,V)
The 'fight or flight' hormone
Frank Oellien Computer-Chemie-Centrum
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Apr 1999 Staurosporine(H,C)
An anti-cancer drug
Clive Walker Novartis Horsham Research Centre
Feb 1999 Ptaquiloside(H,C,J,V)
The poison in bracken
David Bradley Freelance Science Writer/Editor
Jan 1999 Cubane(H,C)
A cubic molecule
Beinn Muir Imperial College
Dec 1998 LSD(H,C,J)
The notorious hallucigenic drug
Paul May University of Bristol
Nov 1998 Polythiophene (J)
A conducting organic polymer
Peter Tebbutt Cherwell Scientific Publishing
Oct 1998 Ferritin (H,C)
An iron-storage protein
James Bashkin, Regina Frey and Maureen Donlin Washington University
in St Louis, Mo, USA
Sept 1998 Saxitoxin (H,C)
A powerful shellfish poison
Neil Edwards University of Sussex
Aug 1998 Finasteride (H)
A treatment for baldness?
Cynthia Schieck Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
July 1998 Formaldehyde (H)
The biology specimen preservative
Walter Volland Bellevue Community College, Washington, USA
June 1998 Mustard Gas (H,C,J)
The notorious WW1 chemical warfare agent
Rebecca Holland Bristol University
May 1998 Proline (H,C)
A useful synthetic reagent
Andrew Potter Liverpool University
April 1998 MCM-41 (H,C,J)
A zeolite catalyst
Vladimir Gusev Freelance
Mar 1998 Ozone (H)
The Earth's protective layer
Eloise Stattersfield Bristol University
Feb 1998 Sulfanilamide (H,C,J)
A useful antibiotic
Peter Tebbutt Cherwell Scientific Publishing
Jan 1998 Adenosine Triphosphate
(ATP)
(H,C,J)
The body's energy storage molecule
Paul May University of Bristol
Dec 1997 4-Bromo-4'-Methoxy-
acetophenone Azine
(H,C)
An organic magnet
Rainer Glaser University of Missouri-Columbia
Nov 1997 Sscorpionine (H,C)
A scorpion-shaped molecule
Henry Rzepa Imperial College London
Oct 1997 N2S2 (H,C)
A molecule with unusual bonding
Joe Gerratt University of Bristol
Sept 1997 Hexol (C)
The molecule that helped the understanding of coordination chemistry
Robert Lancashire University of the West Indies,
Mona, Jamaica
Aug 1997 [Ag{(NC)Mn(CO)2-
P(OPh3)(dppm)}2]+
(H)
A molecule with a near-linear chain of 7 atoms
John Crossley University of Bristol
July 1997 Vancomycin (H,C)
The antibiotic
Alan Bunch
and Anthony Baines
University of Kent
June 1997 Triphenylmethyl (H)
A propellor-shaped molecule
Andrew Hudson
& Richard Jackson
Sussex University
May 1997 Vitamin B12 (C)
The vitamin that prevents anaemia
John Maher Bristol University
April 1997 Cyclooctene (H,C)
A chiral molecule
David Bradley Freelance Science Writer/Editor
Mar 1997 t-AlF3 (H,C,V)
The interesting crystal structure
Armel Le Bail Laboratoire des Fluorures, University of Lemans, France
Feb 1997 Taxol (H,C,J)
The anti-cancer drug
Neil Edwards University of Bristol
Jan 1997 C60 Buckyballs (H,C)
The famous football-shaped molecule
Wyn Locke Imperial College London
Dec 1996 Decahelicene (H,C,JM)
A spiral-shaped molecule
Hens BorkentCMBI, Radboud University Nijmegen, NL
Nov 1996Sialyl Lewis X (H,C)
A carbohydrate that recognises blood groups
Steven Isles & Alan WilsonUniversity of Birmingham
Oct 1996 Water (H)
Not just for drinking...
Shawn Huston Kenner MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Sept 1996 Digitalis (H,C)
The treatment for heart disease
Paul May University of Bristol
Aug 1996 Helvetane and Israelane (H,C)
Hypothetical molecules with intriguing shapes
Mitchell MillerLion Biosciences, USA
July 1996 Diamond (H,C,J)
The world's favourite gem
Paul May University of Bristol
June 1996 Urea (H)
The first synthetic organic product
Stuart Fairall De Montfort University
May 1996 Ferrocene (H,C)
The well known organo-metallic sandwich
Karl Harrison University of Oxford
Apr 1996 Delta-THC (H)
The active ingredient in cannabis
Lee Banting Portsmouth University
Mar 1996 Phthalocyanine (H,C)
A dye, catalyst and anti-cancer agent
Alan Wilson University of Birmingham
Feb 1996 Aspirin (H,C)
The first painkiller
Paul May University of Bristol
Jan 1996 Mauveine dye (C)
The first synthetic dye
Henry Rzepa Imperial College London

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Coming soon:

Oct-1-en-3-ol, P450 enzymes, Green fluorescent protein, Heavy Water, Nylon, Acetic Acid, N-Acetyl Cysteine, THG (tetrahydrogestrinone), Xenon-Hexfluoroplatinate, HCN, Glycine,...

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