Chemistry For Your Life

#066 This week we take a teeny tiny step into the vast, intimidating sea of essential oils. Not to worry, we're sticking to the chemistry. And we're exploring one of the smelliest, purply-est ones. Firstly, what is lavender oil? And how do we get it out of the lavender plant? And what does it do? And can I put it on my meatball sub? How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podc...

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 14 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about buying renewable items, missed puns, polymers, spilling hot water, superglue, the future of the podcast, and much more! Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it. Find us...

#065 It's Fall! You know why they call Fall Fall? Well because the leaves fall. But before that, the leaves change color. Why do they do that? How? Is there any sort of function to it? Do the different colors mean anything? Let's dive into this overdue, colorful topic. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen! References from this episode ht...

#064 Part 3 of 3 on plastic! This week we look to the future. Is there hope to overcome our piles of plastic? What new ways of recycling are coming down the pike? What are those sneaky chemists up to? Can we make better kinds of plastic, or better ways to reuse it? Let's find out. And let's try to stay positive. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to...

#063 This is part 2 of 3 on plastic, so check out last week's episode if you haven't yet! This week, Melissa and Jam dive into one of the weightiest questions of our day. Is plastic even really recyclable? If so, how is it done? Is it really better than just making new plastic? Is it worth all the trouble of rinsing and sorting our recycling? Is recycling effective enough to lead us toward a clean...

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 5 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine glue, water, and borax! References https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-playing-with-polymers/ https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry/experimen...

#062 Think about it for a second, plastic is everywhere. What plastic things are around you right now? What plastic things do you use everyday? This week, Melissa and Jam dive right into the proverbial (and sort of literal) ball pit. What even is plastic? What is it made of? How is it made? How are there so many different kinds? Let's find out. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you'v...

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 13 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about gasoline, super glue, smells, books, and a continuation of last month's movie discussion! Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it. Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and...

#061 Be honest. Have you ever glued yourself with super glue? Everyone should accidentally make that mistake at least once, so you can literally feel the impressive stickiness of super glue. Well today, you can learn about the chemistry within super glue, without putting any fingers or other body parts at risk! Let's do this. References from this episode Introduction to Polymers R.J. Young and P....

#060 Chances are you've heard the word "fluoride" said in reference to your teeth. At the dentists office, on your bottle of mouthwash, maybe you've heard it's in tap water? But what is it, what's so special about it, and how does it help our teeth? Does it make them whiter, stronger, or what? Let's find out. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you w...

#059 Ok so, caffeine. Some of us live on the stuff, and others of us want nothing to do with it. There's a lot of things caffeine can do to our bodies, but of course the number one question, is how does it keep the sleepiness away? Let's get into it. And we may find out a few other things caffeine does along the way. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you wan...

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 4 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine honey, corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and alcohol. Do you like and want more of these? Is there a way we could make them better? Let us know! How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast...

#058 Fruit. You eat it too early? It tastes bland and tart. You eat it too late? And it's rotten. You eat it when it's ripe? It's perfect, sweet, and juicy. What makes fruit ripen? How is it that supermarkets and suppliers can control when fruit ripens, or keep it from ripening too early? What's telling what to ripen when? And how? Let's talk about it. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out...

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 12 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about mosquito repellents, mosquitos and blood type, mosquito saliva, organic chemistry, and some of our favorite movies! Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it. References...

#057 So we all know what we think of when we hear the word "alcohol," but what if that's not really the whole picture? There's actually many kinds of alcohol, most of which we cannot drink. So what's up with all those alcohols? What makes them different? What makes them similar enough to all be called alcohol? Let's find out. Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have...

#056 Seriously. What is fire? This week Melissa and Jam hop out of the frying pan. What are those warm orange wisps? We all sort of know what fire is but also, do we? It's hot, it can be good, it can be bad. But why does it look like that? And what really IS it? Let's try to find out Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and w...

#055 Ever notice that honey crystalizes? Isn't that like super weird? Why does it do that? This week, Melissa and Jam risk getting stuck in this question. References from this episode https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884753/ https://www.usda.gov/codex https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/PDF---Guidance-for-Industry--Proper-Labeling-of-Honey-and-Honey-Products.pdf Honey: Chemical c...

#054 This week, Melissa and Jam close out the mosquitos series with part 4 (If you missed the previous three, go check them out). What does the future look like for humans and mosquitos? Can we finally achieve peace? What are scientists working on, ways to make us invisible to mosquitos, or ways to kill them all? Or can things even get better at all? Let's find out. Scientists, we're counting on y...

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 3 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine milk, food coloring, and dish soap. Let's do chemistry together! Do you like and want more of these? Is there a way we could make them better? Let us know! Chemistry For Your Life Merch is here for a limited time!...

#053 This week, Melissa and Jam continue to part 3 on the topic of mosquitos (If you missed the previous two, go check them out). What is DEET? What part does it play in repelling mosquitos? How do repellants repel mosquitos in the first place? Is it just straight witchcraft? Let's do it. Chemistry For Your Life Merch is here for a limited time! Want to help keep our show going? Want some stylish,...

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 11 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about carbonation, color-changing dyes, spiciness, rain, babies, merch, and more! Snag some limited Chemistry For Your Life merch! References from this episode https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/06/stanford-scientists-contribute-to-who-mask-guidelines.html https://www.a...

#052 This week, Melissa and Jam continue the topic of mosquitos (If you missed last week's, listen to it first). It's time to answer the age-old, every-summer question. Why do some people get bitten by mosquitos more than other people? Or maybe, does this really happen in the first place? If so why? What factors do mosquitos look for, compare, and choose by? Let's get to the bottom of this. Chemis...

#051 This week, Melissa and Jam begin a multi-faceted topic: mosquitos. Now of course mosquitos are insects, so studying them would mostly fall into biology. But there's a lot of chemistry here too. The first question, why do mosquitos bite humans at all? How do they find us, and why do they want to bother us? And perhaps more importantly, how is it related to chemistry? Let's find out. We're prou...

#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? At what cost? Is there more to sweat than meets the eye? Can you drink it? Grab your sweat bands and let's hit the track Paulie Bleeker. References from this episode Flexible and Superwettable Bands as a Platform toward Sweat Sampling and Sensing - A...

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 2 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine markers, coffee filters, and water. Let's do chemistry! Do you like and want more of these? Is there a way we could make them better? Let us know! Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Ema...