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
How do plants defy gravity to "drink" water?
#209
Melissa 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 acti…
What is the future of antihistamines?
#098 Rebroadcast
Original 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 hist…
Why are seasonal allergies the worst?
#097 Rebroadcast
Most 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 …
Why is red food dye banned?
#208
Melissa 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 C…
Chemistry Support: Where does a fart go? (and other questions)
Question and Response 65
Melissa 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 Ca…
Can gasoline freeze?
#207
Melissa 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 im…
What's the chemistry of sticky stuff?
#011 Rebroadcast
Why 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 …
Can I trust the FDA? (from thalidomide to cough medicine)
#206
Melissa 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 re…
Ask a Chemist: Does metal mess up sourdough? (and other questions)
Ask a Chemist #64
Melissa 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, an…
What is going on with science funding??
#205
Jam and Melissa discuss the complexities and consequences of recent executive orders surrounding science funding. Melissa provides insight into how these changes impact university research, facu…
What is rust and is it kinda cool?
#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
How do Tums make us feel better? (And why do they make us burp?)
#114 Rebroadcast
Tums, 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'…
What's the Chemistry Inside Sourdough Bread?
#204
In 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…
Ask a Chemist: Why do carrots cause hiccups? (and other questions)
Ask a Chemist #64
In 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…
Why does Benadryl make us sleepy?
#203
In 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…
Ask a Chemist: How can fire have different colors? (and other questions)
Question and Response 63
In 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 discu…
How do poinsettias detect pH levels?
#202
Melissa 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, wh…
What are LEDs and how are they different from other bulbs?
#075 Rebroadcast
Happy holidays, we hope you have a wonderful season whatever you celebrate! We've got a holiday related episode for you: LEDs. Well I guess we use them all year round, but they get a…
What is canned air? (and should we use it?)
#201
Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry behind air dusters. They explore the components inside these cans, and how the physical properties of these chemicals can lead to rapid evaporation, cold …
Chemistry at Home: Chocolate and Gum
Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 12 (Rebroadcast)
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 combin…