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
Bonus: Methane doesn't have a smell (and other questions)?
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 7
In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about methane, bad smells, bleach, computers seeing colors, crystal formation, a…
Why is the sky blue?
#034
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the oldest question in the book. But we're not going to answer it. Just kidding. Why the HECK is the sky blue? And also why are there times that it isn't? Sunr…
How do thermoses keep coffee hot?
#033
That's right, we are sort of talking about coffee this week. Or rather, how to keep it hot. Nowadays we all have some version of a thermos for our coffee, tea, water, or what-have-you. Today Mel…
How do hand warmers get hot?
#032
This week, Melissa and Jam investigate reusable hand warmers. How do they get hot? Where does the heat even come from? How do reusable ones even work? Is it real? How can heat just come out of n…
How does bleach remove color?
#031
How does bleach bleach stuff? Oh and also, what even is color? This week Melissa and Jam investigate these questions. What's the molecular makeup of color and then how does bleach alter that? Ho…
Bonus: Does cold exist (and other questions)?
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 6
In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about cold/cool, water temperature's effect on boats, vapor pressure, smells, ha…
Why do bad smells smell bad?
#030
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 bad smells …
Why does rain smell?
#029
What's that smell? This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of smell. Now a lot of smell science has to do with our physiology and neurology. We'll talk some about that, but the chemistr…
What’s really happening when our hair gets damaged?
#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 …
What gives curly hair its curl?
#027
This week, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry of something that may not seem like chemistry at first: hair.
Curly hair to be specific. What makes hair curl? Also what is hair in the first p…
Bonus: Growing crystals, bobby pins, and how should we address the Hulk?
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 5
In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about how to grow crystals, details about snowflake formation, a little tiny bit…
What is the taste of carbonated water?
#026
This week, Melissa and Jam discuss part of an often requested topic: carbonation. Does it have a taste? Like why does carbonated water taste different than flat water? And what is carbonation in…
The sea is rising? Should I be scared? (with Renee Collini)
#025
This week, Melissa, Jam, and very special guest Renee Collini (Melissa's sister and climate scientist) delve into the important topic of sea-level rise. What causes it to rise? What affect will …
What do rainbows and mirages have in common?
#024
This week, Melissa and Jam explore three very different, but related, light phenomena. We'll discuss situations when light can be bent, slowed down, and even broken. It's gonna be lit.
Reference…
How do snowflakes form and look so cool?
#023
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the wintery chemistry of snowflakes. How do they form? How are they all unique? How do they look so gosh darn cool? Why don’t we see them here in Texas very mu…
What are antioxidants and are they even good for you?
#022
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of antioxidants. What are they? Is it just magical stuff they put in sport drinks and workout supplements? Can you find it in snake oil?
Referenc…
Bonus: Do solar farms kill birds (and other questions)?
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 4
Welcome to the new home for our Question and Response episodes! This week we respond to comments and questions about solar energy, artificial sweeteners, growin…
How can sunlight turn into electricity?
#021
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of solar energy. How do we capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity? Is it as super insanely cool as it seems? Are we living in t…
Why does water form droplets?
#020
This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of water and intermolecular forces. Why does it form into droplets? Why can you fill a glass of water just above the rim and it not spill over? Ho…
What happens to water in space (and other questions)?
Question and Response #03
This week Melissa and Jam do the last Question and Response episode. We'll continue to do Questions and Responses every month, but after asking listeners for their preferen…