Free radicals are short-lived oxygen- or nitrogen-based molecules that attack - by their chemical properties - various crucially important proteins, but are extinguished themselves as a result of those reactions. The understanding of the role of free radicals proved revolutionary in medical science, and fundamentally changed our approach to the development and treatment of illnesses. Today, the general audience is increasingly interested in free radicals as well. The biology of free radicals sheds new light on seemingly far-off areas, such as the health-protecting role of vitamin C, the biology of ageing, of cancer, of heart attacks, of strokes, and of diabetes, the protective effect of red wine, the increased protection of women against cardiovascular diseases, the new hypertension medicines, and Viagra, the magic pill for the treatment of impotency.

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