Chemistry For Your Life

What makes skunk spray smell so astonishingly bad, and why can the odor come roaring back whenever a sprayed dog gets wet? Are humans unusually sensitive to skunk smell? Does tomato juice actually remove it, or have cartoons been lying to us for decades? In this spooky episode, Melissa and Jam investigate skunk spray, sulfur compounds, olfaction, odor removal, and the chemistry behind a smell that simply refuses to die. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 – A spooky question: Why do skunks smell so bad? 02:43 – The listener question that inspired the episode 04:33 – The chemical family hiding inside skunk spray 08:46 – Why our noses are incredibly sensitive to sulfur compounds 11:38 – How skunks weaponized a smell mammals already hate 12:43 – Why skunk odor can return when it gets wet 17:00 – Drawing out the surprising water-triggered reaction 21:07 – Jam’s teach-back: skunk chemistry explained 31:11 – Does tomato juice actually remove skunk smell? 32:55 – What chemistry suggests might work instead 34:44 – Skunk species, warning signs, and spray strategy 37:58 – Melissa’s baby-skunk rescue and other skunk encounters References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why does microwaving ice cream for two five-second bursts feel different from microwaving it once for ten seconds? Can a science podcast make chemistry accessible without accidentally wrapping complicated ideas in answers that feel a little too neat—and what do seeds know about light that we don’t? Melissa and Jam tackle those questions along with protons versus neutrons, refrigerant patents, leaded gasoline, and an important conversation about unexpected ads. It’s a Q&R episode featuring chemistry off the cuff, educational soul-searching, listener corrections, and an unusually serious investigation into optimal ice cream texture. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Melissa turns the questions on Jam 00:42 — How long should you microwave ice cream? 02:09 — Why two five-second bursts differ from ten continuous seconds 06:43 — How melting and refreezing changes ice cream’s texture 08:25 — Is the podcast making chemistry too easy? 11:00 — Do analogies encourage curiosity or provide overly tidy answers? 17:51 — Jam’s perspective as the podcast’s non-chemist learner 20:15 — Why “that’s just how it is” can end scientific inquiry 25:52 — How can seeds detect light through soil? 31:37 — Yes, Melissa knows the difference between protons and neutrons 35:15 — Patents, leaded gasoline, and the refrigerant industry 37:26 — An important note about gambling ads and podcast platforms References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do atoms “want” full electron shells, do molecules “prefer” stability, and are electrons really “attacking” each other? Or could it be that while personifying molecules might be quietly teaching us the wrong ideas? Chemistry education researcher Jessie Stenlund joins Melissa and Jam to investigate anthropomorphism, analogies, scientific language, and why a satisfying explanation isn’t necessarily an accurate one. Along the way, Melissa reckons with learning that one of her strongest teaching opinions might need revisiting. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Melissa discovers she may have been teaching something wrong 00:52 — Meet chemistry education researcher Jessie Stenlund 04:17 — Why does iron rust? 08:59 — What counts as anthropomorphizing molecules? 11:09 — Why personification makes chemistry easier to learn 15:17 — When chemistry’s official language already sounds human 18:49 — How personification can confuse cause and effect 24:58 — Oversimplification, unfalsifiable claims, and chemical evidence 34:07 — When scientific shorthand replaces real understanding 36:52 — Do students think atoms and molecules are alive? 40:48 — Can satisfying explanations stop us from asking questions? 47:35 — Are electrons really “attacking” other molecules? 52:09 — How to personify chemistry more responsibly 57:00 — Finding the right balance for different learners References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rebroadcast #068 This week we issue a correction, joining other science publications issuing the same correction. That's kind of an obvious answer to the question of "Is science always right?" So in this episode we explore that question, as well as what happens when science isn't right. And why that's NOT a bad thing. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from this episode https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2019/citrus-scent-debunked.html https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jfq.12226 Chemistry by Julia Burdge Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can cooking pasta, rice, or bread, and then cooling it down, actually make it healthier? Could yesterday’s leftovers affect your blood sugar differently than a freshly cooked meal, or is this just another nutrition “hack” invented by the internet? Melissa and Jam investigate starch, glucose, insulin, digestion, crystallization, and the surprising chemistry that happens while your food sits in the fridge. Plus, the whole thing somehow turns into a Lord of the Rings battle involving glucose, hobbits, and ents, because of course it does. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Can cooking and cooling starch make it healthier? 03:52 — Why bread, pasta, and rice get a bad reputation 04:36 — Starch: a polymer made from glucose 07:03 — How glucose, insulin, and blood sugar work 09:25 — The internet’s cook-cool-reheat claim 12:14 — What crystallization has to do with leftovers 14:43 — How starch changes as cooked food cools 15:48 — What is resistant starch? 17:20 — Studies on reheated bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes 19:51 — Resistant starch, fiber, and your gut bacteria 21:26 — Can repeated reheating make even more resistant starch? 23:14 — Jam explains resistant starch using Lord of the Rings 30:44 — A free food hack with actual science behind it 34:49 — Melissa and Jam’s favorite starchy meals References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s actually flowing through the “natural gas” pipes connected to your home—and did we get something wrong in our air-conditioning series? Which careers can an organic chemistry student pursue, how do topical pain-relief gels work, and what could make a successful HIV medication suddenly stop working? Melissa and Jam answer listener questions, revisit past episodes, correct the record, and stumble into a genuinely fascinating pharmaceutical mystery. Plus, could more chemistry history and chemistry-education stories be coming to the podcast? Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Another round of listener chemistry questions 02:04 — Correction: methane, propane, and household natural gas 04:01 — How European AC systems handle propane safely 05:47 — Could more chemistry-education episodes be coming? 07:33 — The overlooked women and stories of chemistry 09:20 — What careers involve organic chemistry? 12:20 — A science teacher tackles the chemistry Praxis exam 13:38 — Do apples and human skin use the same protective pigment? 15:22 — Resources for learning organic chemistry 16:32 — How do topical pain-relief gels work? 19:35 — The HIV medication that suddenly stopped working 20:52 — How one crystal can transform an entire batch References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can shining a red light on your face really improve acne, wrinkles, inflammation, or wound healing, or is red light therapy just an expensive skincare scam involving a slightly alarming mask? How could ordinary visible light affect cells beneath your skin, and should you trust the products filling your social media feed? Melissa and Jam investigate photobiomodulation, mitochondria, collagen, blue light, FDA clearance, and the research behind this increasingly popular wellness trend. The answer is more scientifically interesting, and more complicated, than either of them expected. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Is red light therapy real or a scam? 03:41 — How light transfers energy to molecules 06:24 — Is red light therapy actually infrared? 08:03 — How deeply can visible light penetrate your skin? 09:34 — What red light may do inside your mitochondria 12:00 — Oxygen transport and other possible mechanisms 13:39 — Could red light trigger collagen production and healing? 16:26 — What scientists know—and still don’t understand 20:45 — Red light, blue light, inflammation, and acne 30:03 — The major problems with current red light research 33:20 — What FDA clearance does—and doesn’t—mean 35:20 — How to evaluate a red light therapy device 40:04 — So, should you buy a red light mask? 44:06 — A new series idea: Is it a scam or is it chemistry? References from the Episode: https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/biology/cellular-respiration https://pubs.acs.org/aamick/article-abstract/17/4/5771/3631364/Merged-Red-and-NIR-Light-Sources-for?redirectedFrom=fulltext https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5523874/ https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(24)00187-7/fulltext https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/lsm.22791 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526105/ https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00524.2016 https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/1biochem/blood3.html#top https://www.fda.gov/media/90652/download https://www.fda.gov/media/164417/download https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13085462/#fn-group2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJeiG8r6CyM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knS7rmruf_I Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#007 Rebroadcast Melissa finally explains to Jam how microwaves work after making him wait for an entire week. What the heck is going on inside microwaves? How does it do it's thing and make our food tasty? Is it magic? Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a chemist and a non-chemist make a podcast together for seven years? Which chemistry lessons stuck, which episode ideas spectacularly refused to cooperate, and does Jam still count as a layperson after all this time? Joined by returning guest Claire, Melissa and Jam celebrate the seventh anniversary of Chemistry For Your Life with listener questions, behind-the-scenes stories, friendship reflections, favorite science facts, and one very large chemistry cookie cake. Come for the chemiversary; stay for the long-running argument about reality TV. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Celebrating seven years of Chemistry For Your Life 01:01 — Special guest Claire—and a chemistry cookie cake 03:04 — Nearly two million downloads and meeting listeners in real life 06:05 — What has the podcast done that Melissa and Jam never expected? 10:34 — The biggest surprises about making a podcast 16:35 — What has changed most over the past seven years? 18:30 — How the podcast changed Melissa and Jam’s friendship 25:24 — What would their past selves think of the show today? 27:24 — Episodes and guest collaborations that never panned out 35:02 — How has Jam used seven years of chemistry in everyday life? 39:09 — Is Jam still a chemistry layperson? 47:40 — Which chemistry concepts are hardest for Jam to understand? 52:12 — Their favorite things they’ve learned from the podcast 01:04:06 — Where do they hope to take the show next? References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What exactly is a swamp cooler, and why can it beat the heat in Arizona but leave you sweaty and betrayed in Houston? How can an air conditioner run on water, what does humidity have to do with its effectiveness, and could an icy new invention help prevent overloaded power grids? In the final installment of our air-conditioning series, Melissa and Jam explore evaporative cooling, ancient climate-control tricks, and some promising innovations for a hotter world. It turns out “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” is more scientifically accurate, and more annoying, than we’d like. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — The happier finale to our air-conditioning trilogy 00:37 — What exactly is a swamp cooler? 02:34 — How water can be used as a refrigerant 04:16 — The benefits and drawbacks of evaporative cooling 06:26 — Why air can only hold so much water 08:08 — How much can a swamp cooler lower the temperature? 08:56 — Why swamp coolers only work in certain climates 09:47 — Are refrigerants basically reusable sweat? 12:55 — Jam explains the complete swamp-cooler process 15:45 — Ancient evaporative cooling technology 17:19 — Could swamp coolers affect indoor air quality? 18:40 — An ice-slurry air conditioner designed to relieve the power grid 25:06 — Could underground temperatures heat and cool our homes? References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Could a cheaper, more environmentally friendly refrigerant already exist, and could corporate lobbying be helping keep it out of American air conditioners? Why did the chemicals once hailed as safe alternatives become environmental villains, and are their replacements actually much better? Melissa and Jam follow the twisty history of Freon, ozone depletion, greenhouse gases, propane, and air-conditioning regulations to find out why choosing a refrigerant is never as simple as “this one works.” Grab your red string and conspiracy board, because the chemistry drama is heating up. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — The chemistry and drama hiding inside refrigerants 02:31 — Is propane an ideal refrigerant? 05:37 — How an AC episode became an eight-hour research rabbit hole 09:57 — What makes a good—and safe—refrigerant? 11:19 — The hazardous chemicals used in early refrigeration 12:08 — The invention of Freon and chlorofluorocarbons 13:18 — How CFCs damage the ozone layer 16:40 — The Montreal Protocol and the next generation of refrigerants 18:08 — Solving ozone depletion while worsening global warming 22:24 — Why isn’t propane widely used in American air conditioners? 25:35 — How US refrigerant regulations differ from international standards 29:02 — The document requesting government protection for synthetic refrigerants 40:42 — What conspiracy theories might actually be true? 50:00 — Coming next: the surprisingly cool science of swamp coolers References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a chemist ventures onto Reddit to answer the internet’s most pressing science questions? Why does carbon get its own entire branch of chemistry, what makes fireworks burn different colors, and can an invention work even when its inventor has no idea why? Melissa and Jam tackle those mysteries, plus laboratory disasters, stress recovery, wireless charging, and one surprisingly complicated “Am I the Jerk?” dilemma. It’s chemistry support for the internet, because Reddit clearly has plenty of need for it. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Chemistry Support: answering Reddit’s science questions 01:30 — A chemist’s biggest “oh shoot” laboratory moments 05:36 — Jam’s alarming muriatic acid spill story 09:28 — Can inventors discover something without knowing how it works? 11:49 — Why does wireless charging feel like magic? 16:50 — Why does carbon get its own branch of chemistry? 24:30 — Why do metals make flames different colors? 26:51 — What are some science-backed ways to recover from stress? 28:10 — Completing the body’s stress cycle 31:42 — Why rest isn’t optional—even for busy people 32:03 — “Am I the Jerk?”: A student, a failed class, and an awkward favor 36:01 — What grades really tell professors about their students References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is your air conditioner secretly doing chemistry while you’re inside pretending summer doesn’t exist? How does it turn hot air into cool air, and why does part of the AC blow out even more heat? In this episode, Melissa and Jam crack open the mysterious black box of air conditioning to explore refrigerants, phase changes, energy transfer, and the surprisingly clever science keeping your house livable. Plus: frozen AC coils, summer survival drinks, and the beginning of Hibiscus Girl Summer. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 00:00 — Could we survive a Texas summer without air conditioning? 01:52 — Opening the mysterious black box that is your AC 02:50 — Traditional air conditioners vs. swamp coolers 03:33 — The two chemistry concepts behind air conditioning 04:38 — Understanding energy transfer through human collisions 05:49 — Phase changes explained using a crowded theater 10:30 — How an AC removes energy from hot air 14:20 — What happens inside the refrigerant coils 15:46 — Cooling and recycling the refrigerant 18:50 — Do refrigerators work the same way? 23:19 — Why would ice form inside a broken AC? 28:42 — Our favorite treats and drinks for surviving hot weather References from the Episode: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/evaporative-coolers-work-best-dry-areas-us-area-a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT38gaGciP4 https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2024/benefits-and-challenges-using-low-gwp-a3-refrigerants-residential-air Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#044 Rebroadcast You know what we're talking about. That spectacular fizzy geyser. This week, Melissa and Jam explore what makes diet coke and mentos go crazy together. Is it love? Is it hate? Is it chemistry? Why diet coke specifically? Or more importantly, why mentos? Let's get into it. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from this episode Diet Coke and Mentos: What is really behind this physical reaction? - American Journal of Physics 76, 551 (2008) Diet Coke and Mentos: What is really behind this physical reaction? - Tonya Coffey Spurting Science: Erupting Diet Coke with Mentos - Scientific American - Science Buddies Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#135 Rebroadcast Well guess what, Melissa is a PhD Doctor now! And you know what that means? She gets to tell us more details about the research she did to get her PhD. Listen to hear what Melissa found as she dove deep into the question "Why do people hate organic chemistry?" for the past few years. References from this episode National Research Council, (2012), Discipline-based education research: Understanding and improving learning in undergraduate science and engineering , The National Academies Press. Graulich N., (2015), The tip of the iceberg in organic chemistry classes: How do students deal with the invisible? Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. , 16 (1), 9–21. Xu X. and Lewis J. E., (2011), Refinement of a chemistry attitude measure for college students. J. Chem. Educ. , 88 (5), 561–568. Gibbons R. E. and Raker J. R., (2019), Self-beliefs in organic chemistry: Evaluation of a reciprocal causation, cross-lagged model. J. Res. Sci. Teach. , 56 (5), 598–618. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the biggest challenge in chemistry education isn’t helping students survive—but helping them thrive? In this final bonus episode of our BCCE Community Conversation series, Melissa talks with Dr. Leyte Winfield about creating learning environments where students feel like they belong. They discuss moving beyond “weed-out” culture, designing courses that maintain high standards while expanding opportunity, and why the future of chemistry depends on empowering talented students rather than simply filtering them out. It’s a fitting conclusion to a series all about rethinking how we teach and learn chemistry. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing the final BCCE Community Conversation 2:40 – Meet Leyte Winfield and the vision behind “Shifting the Equilibrium” 4:25 – From “weed out” culture to empowering student success 9:30 – Success-oriented vs. deficit-oriented teaching 13:30 – Practical ways to help students thrive without lowering standards 16:00 – Open deadlines, accountability, and lessons from COVID 18:40 – Connecting chemistry to students’ everyday lives 20:00 – Why organic chemistry shouldn’t be about memorization 22:20 – Rethinking mentoring and preparing the next generation of chemists 27:40 – Wrapping up the BCCE series and looking ahead Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

#028 This week, Melissa and Jam travel even further down the rabbit hole of hair chemistry. How does our hair get damaged? How do we curl, straighten, and perm our hair? What's going on there at the molecular level? Let's find out! References from this episode Biochemistry, Edition 4 - Garret and Grisham Making waves: The chemistry of hair perms - Christine Herman, Chemistry & Engineering News How Did the 80s Get Hair So Big? - American Chemical Society The Chemistry of Hair - C. S. Whewell, Ph.D., F.R.I.C., F.T.I. The Science of Curls - Leidamarie Tirado-Lee Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do we build chemistry classrooms where more students can thrive? In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Matt Mio about neurodiversity in chemistry education. They discuss why every student experiences learning differently, how understanding those differences can make us better teachers and colleagues, and why creating more accessible learning environments benefits far more people than we might expect. It’s a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, empathy, and what it means to teach the whole student. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation on neurodiversity 2:40 – Meet Matt Mio and why this topic matters to him 6:10 – What the BCCE session will explore: students and faculty 11:00 – Why more educators are thinking differently about neurodiversity 14:00 – Melissa’s ADHD journey and designing courses that help everyone 18:30 – Questions to bring back to your own teaching community 19:10 – Universal Design for Learning and meeting students where they are 24:00 – Why awareness is the best place to start 25:30 – ADHD “superpowers” and different ways of thinking 28:00 – Looking ahead to the Community Conversation at BCCE Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hairspray seems simple… until you actually stop and think about it. How does it come out as a fine mist? Why doesn’t it dry up inside the can? How can it hold your hair in place without acting like glue? This week we’re unpacking the surprisingly clever chemistry behind one of the most common products in our homes—and discovering it’s far more complicated than either of us expected. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Timestamps 0:00 – A question inspired by our forensics episode: what is hairspray? 4:40 – The three ingredients inside a can of hairspray 10:40 – How the propellant turns liquid into a fine aerosol spray 18:30 – How polymers create an invisible “hairnet” 29:00 – Why designing hairspray is harder than you might expect 36:20 – How hairspray compares to gel and mousse 45:50 – Fun categories: movies, cast iron, and things that turned out to be more complicated than expected References from the Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haP-EaElL-M https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2023/november/mixing-heat-with-hair-styling-products-may-be-bad-for-your-health.html https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.3c05156 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/bk-2013-1148.ch015 Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Great teaching doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry educator Dr. Joanne Stewart about communities of practice : groups of educators who come together to share ideas, solve problems, and help one another grow. They explore why teaching is hard to improve on your own, how these communities support both faculty and students, and why meaningful change in chemistry education depends on building relationships, not just sharing resources. Important Links Submit a Question for Community Conversations bcce.divched.org/2026 YouTube.com/@chemforyourlife chemforyourlife.com Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing the BCCE Community Conversation series 2:40 – Meet Joanne Stewart and her work in chemistry education 5:10 – What is a community of practice? 8:20 – How educators can get involved (even as a “lurker”) 11:50 – Sharing teaching resources and learning from one another 15:30 – Building a “community of communities” in chemistry 18:50 – What this year’s Community Conversation will explore 23:50 – Why lasting educational change requires strong networks 29:20 – BCCE events, communities to explore, and final invitations Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.