In our research, we employ lasers to explore the dynamics of solution-phase molecules on a nanosecond time scale. Typically, we use a pulsed laser (typically a nitrogen laser or nitrogen-pumped dye laser) to energize or excite molecules of interest. The excited molecules are generally unstable and may undergo a variety of relaxation processes to redistribute or lose excess energy in order to achieve a more stable configuration. We monitor relaxation pathways using time-resolved techniques such as laser-induced fluorescence, transient absorption, and thermal lensing. Molecules currently under study are buckminsterfullerene and benzophenone.