Chemistry For Your Life
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Chemistry For Your Life
A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life. Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions s...
Seneste episoder
378 episoder
Does wool actually resist odor and bacteria?
#229
What makes wool an essential fabric for many people? Is lanolin truly antimicrobial, or is wool itself responsible for its famed properties...
Ask a Chemist: Are X-rays really bad for you? (and other questions)
Question and Response #74
Melissa and Jam dive into a series of fascinating chemistry questions submitted by listeners. They explore how food af...
What is iodized salt? And why?
#077
Who's doing what to our salt? What's iodine, do we need it, why, and how do they get it in there? This week Melissa and Jam dive head first...
How do scissors curl ribbon?
#228
In this festive episode, Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating science behind why ribbons curl when pressed against a blade. The discu...
What makes firecrackers go pop?
#227
Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind firecrackers and Christmas crackers. They discuss the key component, silver fulminate, expl...
Ask a Chemist: Should I be worried about Cast Iron? (and other questions)
Ask a Chemist #73
Melissa and Jam tackle a range of listener questions covering a wide array of chemistry-related topics. They discuss the prope...
How do X-Rays reveal what's hidden inside us?
#226
Melissa and Jam delve into the intriguing world of X-rays. They start with relatable stories from the dentist's office and transition into...
What's up with aluminum foil?
#018 Rebroadcast
This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of aluminum foil. Why doesn’t it feel hot when we take it out of the oven? How...
Reddit Chemistry: Mishaps, Mentorship, and More
#225
Melissa and Jam take a break from traditional chemistry topics to delve into chemistry-related stories from Reddit. They discuss a funny su...
Ask a Chemist: Why are skunks so potent? (and other questions)
Question and Response 72
Melissa and Jam tackle a variety of listener questions about chemistry-related topics. They discuss the differences bet...
How do pimple patches save our faces?
Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind popular hydrocolloid bandages and pimple patches. They discuss the composition and functionality of th...
How does Benzoyl Peroxide fight acne?
#127 Rebroadcast
If you've ever had acne, you've probably tried some creams or washes with "benzoyl peroxide" somewhere on the label. How is it...
What sparks the mystery of static electricity?
Melissa and Jam delve into the intricate phenomenon of static electricity. They discuss their own experiences with static shocks and static cling, par...
3 Kitchen Tips From a Chemist: What to Use and Avoid
Melissa and Jam discuss the top three kitchen products and habits Melissa avoids and loves based on her expertise in chemistry. She advises against us...
How does Poo-Pourri prevent unpleasant smells?
Melissa and Jam discuss the chemistry behind Poopourri Toilet Spray. Melissa explains how the spray works by forming a non-polar oil layer on top of w...
How do odor absorbers work?
#072 Rebroadcast
You know what they say, everyone's experienced odors, and 99.99% of all odors smell. We have room sprays, candles, air freshene...
Are your lips being tricked by chapstick?
Melissa and Jam delve into the science behind lip balm, investigating whether products like Chapstick and Burt's Bees are beneficial or if they could...
Ask a Chemist: Why is glass clear? (and other questions)
Melissa and Jam tackle a range of fascinating chemistry questions from their audience in this episode of 'Chemistry For Your Life'. They discuss why g...
Does lotion really hydrate dry skin?
Melissa and Jam discuss the science behind moisturizers and how they help with dry skin. The conversation covers the role of occlusives like petroleum...
What are shooting stars?
Melissa and Jam explore the science behind shooting stars, unraveling the chemistry that turns space rocks into brilliant streaks of light in our nigh...
How do glowsticks glow?
#067 Rebroadcast (Originally Aired October 2020)
Guess what time of year it is. It's spooky time! One thing we see a lot of during this time of...
What makes fireflies glow?
Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex ser...
Ask a Chemist: What would be worse, drinking bleach or gasoline? (and other questions)
Melissa and Jam dive into a variety of listener-submitted questions. They discuss the science behind fluffy shave ice versus mainland shaved ice, the...
Why is sweat salty?
Melissa and Jam explore the science behind why sweat is salty. They discuss personal experiences with sweating, the types of sweat glands, and the che...
How does sweat cool us down?
#050
This week, Melissa and Jam once again look under the armpits of society, this time to explore sweat. Is it cool? Well does it keep us cool?...
How does *color* film photography work??
In this continuation of our two-part series, Melissa and Jam dive into the intriguing chemistry behind color film and Polaroid photography. The episod...
Ask a Chemist: Is Baking Soda and Vinegar a Cleaning Myth? (And other questions)
Melissa and Jam tackle a variety of questions and corrections from their listeners. They dive into topics such as the effectiveness of baking soda and...
What is the chemistry of film photography?
Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind film photography. They reminisce about their childhood experiences with analog cameras and...
What gives curly hair its curl?
#027 Rebroadcast
Originally Published January 23, 2020
This week, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry of something that may not...
Are organic vegetables healthier for you?
Melissa and Jam dive into the definition and implications of organic foods. They explore what organic means according to USDA standards, dissect commo...
Ask a Chemist: Explain it like I'm five?
This episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' features Melissa and Jam tackling various chemistry questions sourced from the 'Explain Like I'm Five' subre...
Is it safe to use weed killer (Roundup)?
Melissa and Jam discuss the multifaceted debate surrounding the use of the widely known weed killer, Roundup, specifically its active ingredient, glyp...
Are we breathing recycled air on airplanes?
#212
Melissa and Jam explore the concept of ozone and its impact on air quality in airplanes. Melissa explains the chemical reaction of ozone, w...
What is the ozone layer?
#110 Rebroadcast
Originally Published August 26, 2021
We've all heard about it. And most likely you've heard that it's in danger. B...
Ask a Chemist: What is heavy water? (and other questions)
Question and Response #67
Melissa and Jam dive into a series of chemistry-related questions from their audience. From understanding why wintergr...
Why do airplanes make you gassy?
#211
Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind increased flatulence on airplanes. They explore how changes in air pressure affect gas expa...
Chemistry at Home: Chromatography
Chemistry at Home: Chromatography Rebroadcast
Originally Published June 29, 2020
Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching...
How do pregnancy tests actually work?
#210
Melissa and Jam dive into the science of home pregnancy tests. They explore the process in which these tests detect the presence of the hor...
Ask a Chemist: Are all food dyes bad? (and other questions)
Ask a Chemist #66
Melissa and Jam dive into a range of listener-submitted questions exploring everyday chemistry. Topics include the chemistry b...
How do plants defy gravity to "drink" water?
#209
Melissa and Jam dive into the fascinating chemistry behind how plants transport water from their roots to their leaves, effectively defying...