In modern life, consumers constantly make decisions about which products to support. This is done either by actually buying products or by supporting legal measures allowing their production. With the global impact of modern technology, our decisions as consumers and policy-makers will be more important in the twenty-first century than ever before. How are we going to assimilate the information provided through the media and make reasonable decisions? How was the nuclear waste problem overlooked in the 50s? Is the answer in science, or is the "truth" in science also tainted by human ambitions? We explore topics such as the use and abuse of energy, pollution, chemical communication, polymers and other materials, drug design, cooking, metabolism, androgens and estrogens, and nitric oxide (NO). To understand the relevance of modern chemistry in our lives, this course examines some of the fundamental principles of physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, and their relation to biochemistry and molecular physiology. Besides discussing chemical principles, the course considers the impact of human decisions and behavior in science. Is gender discrimination in the natural sciences a concern in the twenty-first century? Should we be afraid of fraudulent experiments in modern science? What is the future of nuclear energy, of electric cars? Overall, a good understanding of the scientific principles discussed in this course will allow consumers to make better decisions in the twenty-first century. This course is designed for the non-science major who does not intend to pursue a career in the natural sciences. Format: lectures, three hours a week. Evaluation is based on problem sets, a midterm exam, a final paper, and a final exam.