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PODCAST

Chemistry For Your Life

Melissa and Jam, Bleav

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 she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life! In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way

science chemistry

All Episodes

00:13:29

Chemistry at Home: Chromatography

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/05/08

Chemistry at Home: Chromatography RebroadcastOriginally Published June 29, 2020 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! Watch the experiment here! ★ 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

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00:40:21

How do pregnancy tests actually work?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/05/01

#210Melissa and Jam dive into the science of home pregnancy tests. They explore the process in which these tests detect the presence of the hormone HCG, which signals a positive pregnancy result. The episode explains the roles of capillary action, antibodies, and enzymes in the test's operation and discusses the specificity needed to avoid false positives and negatives. The hosts also share personal anecdotes related to pregnancy tests and offer gratitude to their supportive community. This episode

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00:33:18

Ask a Chemist: Are all food dyes bad? (and other...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/04/24

Ask a Chemist #66Melissa and Jam dive into a range of listener-submitted questions exploring everyday chemistry. Topics include the chemistry behind toasting herbs, the effect of gravity on elemental bonds, the purpose and ethics of creating elements with short half-lives, and the effectiveness of cough medicine. They also discuss potential causes of mysterious holes in clothing, the debate on food dyes, and the impact of politics on scientific research funding. The hosts wrap up by addressing

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00:44:46

How do plants "drink" water?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/04/18

#209Melissa and Jam dive into the fascinating chemistry behind how plants transport water from their roots to their leaves, effectively defying gravity. They explore processes such as capillary action and the cohesion tension mechanism, citing a primary source from Nature journal. Melissa and Jam also touch on key chemistry concepts like water polarity, hydrogen bonding, and osmosis, providing examples from everyday life. Jam shares a personal story about germinating an apple seed with his son,

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00:34:35

What is the future of antihistamines?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/04/10

#098 RebroadcastOriginal Air Date: June 3, 2021 Could histamine and antihistamines do more than just affect our allergies? Actually yes. Today we discuss new and recent research in the world of histamine, and believe us, there's some really cool stuff. References from this episode https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/web/2013/06/Tracking-Histamine-Levels-Glowing-Nanosensors.html https://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/12/Chemical-Cocktail-Lures-Bedbugs-Coaxes.html

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00:29:11

Why are seasonal allergies the worst?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/04/03

#097 RebroadcastMost of us know the feeling. But what are we actually experiencing when we experience allergies? How does being around plants and pollen make us all sniffly? Why does this beautiful season have such a dark side? Let's find out. References from this episode https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538528/ https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/histamine/3005799.article https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/h/histamine.html

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00:33:49

Why is red food dye banned?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/03/27

#208Melissa and Jam dive deep into the topic of FDA regulations, particularly focusing on food additives like red food dye. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's approval process, the Delaney Clause, and recent changes in the regulation of red dye number 3, which has been banned in response to cancer risks found in rats. They also delve into how other countries like the UK and Canada are ahead of the U.S. in reevaluating approved substances. The episode includes personal anecdotes and a

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00:27:03

Chemistry Support: Where does a fart go? (and other...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/03/20

Question and Response 65Melissa and Jam delve into a variety of interesting chemistry-related questions sourced from Reddit. They explore why farts stop smelling over time, the non-oily nature of Castile soap, why cookies and candies remain safe to eat at room temperature, and the mechanics behind rice cookers. They also discuss how opening a bottle can freeze its contents and offer reassurance to a chemistry Ph.D. student worried about forgetting basic chemistry knowledge. The episode is filled

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00:31:05

Can gasoline freeze?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/03/13

#207Melissa and Jam explore why gasoline doesn't freeze in extremely low temperatures while water and other substances do. They delve into the concepts of intermolecular forces, polarity, and how impurities can affect the freezing and melting points of substances. The discussion includes a comparison of the behavior of different substances at varying temperatures, and a light-hearted conversation on favorite liquids that can exist in both liquid and solid states. They also hint at upcoming

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00:33:14

What's the chemistry of sticky stuff?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/03/06

#011 RebroadcastWhy is honey sticky but salt isn’t? What’s the difference between things that stick and things that just feel sticky? In this episode, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry behind adhesion, cohesion, and the forces that make substances cling to surfaces (and to our fingers). They explore intermolecular forces, viscosity, and why some things are nearly impossible to separate once they’re bonded. Plus, Jam shares a hilarious mix-up of words, and Melissa breaks down why this topic

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00:30:23

Can I trust the FDA? (from thalidomide to cough...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/02/27

#206Melissa and Jam address a listener's question about the FDA's reliability in approving products. They discuss the intersection of chemistry, government, and society, focusing on FDA's role in regulating food and drugs. The episode includes a deep dive into the historical thalidomide tragedy, the improvements in the FDA's approval process since then, and the nuances of trusting FDA-approved products. Through personal insights, they emphasize the complexities and challenges faced by the FDA in

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00:47:25

Ask a Chemist: Does metal mess up sourdough? (and...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/02/20

Ask a Chemist #64Melissa and Jam delve into intriguing chemistry questions posed by their listeners. They explore whether all salts are salty, the chemistry of gunshot residue and fingerprinting, and the reactions between chemicals and sound waves. Special guest Maison, Melissa's husband, joins to discuss sourdough starter cultures and answer sourdough-related queries. The episode concludes with insightful comments from their Chemmunity members and reassurances about their well-being amid

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00:44:02

What is going on with science funding??

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/02/13

#205Jam and Melissa discuss the complexities and consequences of recent executive orders surrounding science funding. Melissa provides insight into how these changes impact university research, faculty positions, and broader society. The duo also highlights the historical context and importance of DEI in academia, emphasizing the broader implications of funding uncertainties on current and future science initiatives. 00:00 Introduction and Special Occasions 00:20 Current Issues in Science

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00:34:46

What is rust and is it kinda cool?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/02/12

#047 Rebroadcast This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of rust. What even is it? Where does it come from? Is it bad? Is it reversible? Let's get into it. References from this episode Turning Back Time: Watching Rust Transform into Iron - National Institute of Standards and Technology The Color of Soil - United States Department of Agriculture Why does metal rust? - American Chemical Society Ultra-Pure Water - National Geographic Thanks to our monthly supporters Julie S

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00:27:31

How do Tums make us feel better? (And why do they...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/01/30

#114 RebroadcastTums, alka seltzer, and other antacids: they're simple, they've been around for a long time, but they're a tried and true method for helping our stomachs. But how do they work? What's the chemistry behind these unsung heroes? References from this episode Chemistry Julia Burdge Biochemistry 4th edition by Garret & Grisham https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-carbonation-time/ http://websites.umich.edu/~chemstu/content_weeks/F_06_Week10/p848.pdf

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00:41:06

What's the Chemistry Inside Sourdough Bread?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/01/23

#204In this episode Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating biochemistry behind sourdough bread. They explore the role of microorganisms, including different strains of yeast and bacteria, in the fermentation process. The discussion covers how these organisms contribute to the unique flavors and textures of sourdough, and addresses common questions from listeners about its health benefits, the impact of tap water, and the variability of sourdough starters. The episode combines scientific

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00:29:44

Ask a Chemist: Why do carrots cause hiccups? (and...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/01/16

Ask a Chemist #64In this bonus edition of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam tackle intriguing questions from listeners. They delve into why some people hiccup when eating carrots, the fascinating uses of poinsettias in food packaging, the role of benzene as a carcinogen, and the controversies surrounding hydrogen-rich water bottles. Additionally, they explain how catalysts work and respond to various chemistry-related inquiries from their engaged audience. 00:00 Introduction and

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00:38:30

Why does Benadryl make us sleepy?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/01/09

#203In this episode, Jam recounts a humorous yet enlightening story of accidentally taking a dog-sized dose of Benadryl and the sleepy consequences that followed. Melissa, a chemist, dives deep into the chemistry of antihistamines, explaining the difference between first-generation (drowsy) and second-generation (non-drowsy) antihistamines. The episode covers the role of histamine in the body's allergic reactions and how different antihistamines interact with histamine receptors. Melissa elucidates

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00:24:47

Ask a Chemist: How can fire have different colors?...

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2025/01/02

Question and Response 63In this episode Melissa and Jam embark on an 'Ask a Chemist' segment, delving into the ethics surrounding the field of chemistry and addressing listener questions. They discuss managing discussions on the dark side of chemistry, why certain chemicals emit characteristic colors in the flame test, and share personal experiences regarding the toughest classes in their educational journeys. The episode also features listener interactions about nostalgic glow-in-the-dark items

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00:40:41

How do poinsettias detect pH levels?

Chemistry For Your Life ·

2024/12/26

#202Melissa and Jam dive into a fun and educational holiday-themed activity using poinsettia plants. They explore the chemistry behind these festive plants, specifically focusing on anthocyanins, which are pigments that give the leaves their red color and act as pH indicators. The episode includes a hands-on experiment that listeners can try at home to visualize how different household items can change the color of poinsettia leaves. Perfect for a holiday break activity that educates and entertains

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363 results

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