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 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 that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating.
If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 359
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
Why do apples turn brown when we cut them?
#035 Rebroadcast
Do you like apples? Ever wonder why they turn brown when you cut them? This week, Melissa and Jam explore this very question. What's going on in these apples? Where does the brown co…
Should we take Vitamin C when we're sick?
#190
In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam delve into the role of vitamin C in the immune system and examine whether taking mega doses of the vitamin can help with commo…
Ask a Chemist: Why do chemicals smell "chemically?" (And other questions)
Question and Response 57
In this bonus episode of 'Chemistry For Your Life,' hosts Melissa Collini and Jam Robinson answer listener-submitted questions about various chemistry topics. They discuss th…
How does Vitamin C keep our bodies from turning into mush?
#189
In this episode, Melissa and Jam delve into the crucial role of Vitamin C in the body, focusing on its importance for collagen production. They discuss how collagen, a key structural protein fou…
Do anti-aging products work?
#099 Rebroadcast
In this special re-release episode, Melissa and Jam dive deep into the world of Vitamin A (retinol) and its role in anti-aging skincare. They revisit a popular episode that explores …
What even ARE vitamins? And do we actually need them?
#188
In this episode, hosts Melissa and Jam dive into the basics of vitamins. They discuss the origins of vitamins, why they are labeled with letters, and the difference between water-soluble and fat…
Ask a Chemist: Why do you need yogurt to make yogurt? (And other questions)
Question and Response 56
In this bonus edition of Chemistry for Your Life, hosts Melissa and Jam engage with their listeners by answering a variety of chemistry-related questions and addressing liste…
Why does hair turn grey when we age?
#187
This episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' delves into the fascinating world of gray hair, exploring its chemistry and biological processes. Hosts Melissa and Jam share personal anecdotes about e…
Why do bad smells smell bad?
#030 Rebroadcast
Melissa and Jam continue to sniff out the chemistry of smell, focusing this week on bad smells. Why are we so good at smelling bad smells? Why do they haunt us at night? Why are some…
What is old people smell? And is the internet wrong about it?
#186
In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' hosts Melissa and Jam explore the common notion that elderly people have a distinct smell. They delve into the scientific basis behind this observati…
Ask a Chemist: Reddit Edition!
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 55
In this bonus episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam deviate from their usual format of answering listener questions to engage with the Re…
Is compost dirt??
#185
Let's make dirt. Or is it dirt? I don't know, well, can you dig it? We've all heard of compost, maybe you compost, maybe your friend does, maybe they talk about it a lot. But how does it work? …
How do sunglasses protect our eyes?
#082 Rebroadcast
Wow sunglasses sure are cool. What's the coolest thing about them? Is it how cool they make us look and feel? Or is it the chemistry inside them? We'll let you decide, but we think …
What are the Northern Lights?
#184
That's right, the Northern Lights aren't just cool CGI after all. They're real, but what are they? Why do they occur? And how are they chemistry? Let's find out!
References from this Episode
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Ask a Chemist: Can you dissolve a liquid into a solid? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 54
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about dissolving, purple shampoo, coal ash, and petroleum waste.
Thanks …
Did the FDA eliminate Forever Chemicals? (PFAS Part 5!)
#183
We're adding another chapter to the PFAS series! There's new information from the FDA that we've got to talk about,. It's about the PFAS that coat food wrappers. What does it mean? Is it good n…
Why do things fade in the sun?
#081 Rebroadcast
The sun. It's nice, it's warm, it helps things grow, it helps us see, it helps us exist in the first place. But it's also a massive burning molten ball of radiation and ultraviolet …
What's the REAL reason we can't look at a solar eclipse?
#182
There's an eclipse coming to the US in April! Which means we'll all be getting that reminder to NOT LOOK AT THE ECLIPSE WITHOUT PROPER EYE PROTECTION. But why is that? At the molecular level, w…
Ask a Chemist: How does purple shampoo work, or does it? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 53
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about purple shampoo, salt on icy roads, msg, and more!
Thanks to our mo…
What is Vitamin D? And what does it have to do with the sun?!
#181
Have you heard about Vitamin D? Has someone ever told you that you need it and it's really important? Have you ever wondered why? And have you ever wondered what the heck THE SUN has to do with…