Melissa and Jam tackle a range of fascinating chemistry questions from their audience in this episode of 'Chemistry For Your Life'. They discuss why glass is transparent, how some foods make our mouth feel hot or cold, and the science behind decaffeinating coffee. Along the way, they share insights about their popular 'ghost holding an Erlenmeyer Flask' merch and highlight the importance of ad placements and community support for the podcast. Tune in to learn all about the chemistry behind these everyday phenomena!

00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:11 Chemistry Questions and Topics
01:27 Merchandise and Halloween Special
03:05 Community Questions and Answers
03:42 Glass Transparency Explained
04:50 Chemistry in Everyday Life
06:56 Spicy and Cool Sensations
09:38 Moisturizers and Healing Ointments
16:19 Understanding Poisons
17:29 Understanding Defense Systems and Poison Dosage
18:32 The Fascinating Effects of Poisons
20:19 Decaffeination Methods Explained
22:43 Exploring Hot Tub Chemicals and pH Indicators
27:33 Addressing Ad Placement Feedback
32:59 Supporting the Podcast and Community

★ 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:

1. https://courses.ems.psu.edu/matse81/node/2154

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Emily Morrison
• Kyle McCray
• Emily Hardy
• Ash
• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather Ragusa
• Autoclave
• Chelsea Morelos
• Dorien VD
• Scott Beyer
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

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.

Melissa and Jam discuss the science behind moisturizers and how they help with dry skin. The conversation covers the role of occlusives like petroleum jelly, humectants such as glycerin, and emollients in skincare. They also explore the importance of staying hydrated and the effect of environmental factors on skin moisture. Listeners can learn about the distinct mechanisms that moisturizers use to keep skin hydrated and healthy.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Experiences with Dry Skin
01:23 Understanding Moisturizers: What Do They Really Do?
01:56 Welcome to Chemistry for Your Life
02:07 Shoutout to Our Newest Community Member
03:37 Transitioning from Summer to Winter: The Importance of Moisturizers
04:27 The Science Behind Moisturizers: Intermolecular Forces
08:20 How Moisturizers Work: Trapping Moisture and Skin Oils
11:23 The Role of Water and Oils in Skin Hydration
21:22 Understanding Humectants
23:06 The Role of Occlusives in Skincare
24:03 Exploring Emollients
26:34 The Importance of Moisturizing
27:14 Chemistry Behind Moisturizers
28:50 Personal Experiences and Tips
44:41 Final Thoughts and Community Shoutouts

★ 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:

1. https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/07/21/moisturisers/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29319217/
3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jocd.12490#accessDenialLayout
4. https://illumin.usc.edu/the-chemistry-behind-moisturizers/
5. https://research-ebsco-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/c/id67n2/viewer/pdf/2oe2i2o6qn?route=details
6. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/reactions/library/moisturizer.html

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Kyle McCray
• Justine
• Emily Hardy
• Ash
• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather Ragusa
• Autoclave
• Chelsea Morelos
• Dorien VD
• Scott Beyer
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

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.

Melissa and Jam explore the science behind shooting stars, unraveling the chemistry that turns space rocks into brilliant streaks of light in our night sky. They discuss how meteors heat up and glow as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, the difference between meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites, and share fun facts about colorful meteors and the surprising role of amino acids from space. The episode is filled with personal stories, space trivia, and thoughtful tangents about the ethics of asteroid mining and the wonder of the universe.

00:00 Stargazing and Summer Memories
03:20 Meet the Hosts
05:00 Chemistry for Your Life Merch
07:00 Camping Stories & Inspiration
10:00 Chemistry of Gases and Atmosphere
13:00 What Are Shooting Stars?
18:00 The Science of Meteor Glow
23:00 Fun Facts: Colors, Metals, and Amino Acids
30:00 Asteroid Mining & Space Ethics
36:00 Favorite Space Stories
43:00 Listener Shoutouts & Support
47:00 Final Thoughts & Wrap-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

References from this episode:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Kyle McCray
• Justine
• Emily Hardy
• Ash
• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather Ragusa
• Autoclave
• Chelsea Morelos
• Dorien VD
• Scott Beyer
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

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.

#067 Rebroadcast (Originally Aired October 2020)

Guess what time of year it is. It's spooky time! One thing we see a lot of during this time of year, is things that glow. And you better believe that's chemistry. So how do glowsticks glow? How does bending the glowsticks start that process? What's mixing with what, and seriously how the heck does it glow? Let's find out.

★ 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

1. Organic Chemistry, Solomons 11e
2. Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Daniel C. Harris
3. Simple Glowmatography: Chromatographic Separation of GlowStick Dyes Using Chalk - Thomas S. Kuntzleman,* Kasey R. Bunker, and Ashlee A. Bartlett
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/fluorescence
5. https://ocw.mit.edu/high-school/chemistry/demonstrations/videos/anatomy-of-a-glowstick/glowstick.pdf
6. Glowmatography - Thomas S. Kuntzleman,* Anna E. Comfort, and Bruce W. Baldwin

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Kyle McCray
• Justine
• Emily Hardy
• Ash
• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather Ragusa
• Autoclave
• Chelsea Morelos
• Dorien VD
• Scott Beyer
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• 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.

Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex series of chemical reactions involving specific molecules like luciferin and enzymes like luciferase. The discussion extends to how these mechanisms find applications in scientific research, such as identifying tumors in mice. The episode is interspersed with nostalgic summer stories, making it a blend of chemistry education and personal anecdotes.

00:00 Nostalgic Summer Evenings
00:33 Fireflies and Childhood Wonder
01:04 Introduction to Firefly Chemistry
02:22 Shoutout to Ash and Podcast Tips
03:58 Diving into Bioluminescence
04:52 The Chemistry Behind Firefly Light
11:17 Understanding Acid-Base Reactions
16:13 The Role of Luciferase
18:43 The Unstable Four-Membered Ring
28:39 Understanding Molecular Structures
29:33 The Instability of Molecular Rings
33:39 Fireflies and Bioluminescence
40:53 Applications in Medical Science
45:37 Nostalgic Summer Memories
52:48 Supporting the Show and Final Thoughts

★ 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:

1. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/luciferin/3005839.article
2. https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-chemistry-behind-how-fireflies-glow
3. https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.258103
4. https://youtu.be/pTPMwZK2-yM
5. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5b03820
6. https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1021/jp301910p
7. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cphc.201300330
8. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cphc.201200195
9. https://iubmb-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/iub.134
10. https://chemistry-europe-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1002/cbic.200500443
11. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/rainbow-makers/3003381.article
12. https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/f/firefly-luciferin.html

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Kyle McCray
• Justine
• Emily Hardy
• Ash
• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather Ragusa
• Autoclave
• Chelsea Morelos
• Dorien VD
• Scott Beyer
• Jessie Reder
• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

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.

Melissa and Jam dive into a variety of listener-submitted questions. They discuss the science behind fluffy shave ice versus mainland shaved ice, the effectiveness and safety of ozone treatments for smoke smells, and the potential impact of glyphosate on human health. They also explore the chemistry of everyday items like rinse aid in dishwashers, different types of soap, and even hypothetical scenarios involving bleach and gasoline. Melissa provides insights based on her knowledge as a chemist, offering a fascinating look into the chemistry of our everyday life.

00:00 Introduction and Listener Questions
00:29 Chemistry of Shave Ice
06:58 Ozone Treatment for Cigarette Smell
12:15 Glyphosate and Its Effects
21:32 Rinse Aid in Dishwashers
24:02 Concerns About Rinse Safety
24:24 Exploring Cleaning Products
26:26 Differences in Soaps and Shampoos
27:27 Chemistry of Hair and Skin Products
32:59 Hypothetical: Bleach vs. Gasoline
37:17 Listener Shoutouts and Anniversary
42:27 Chemistry of Erasable and Invisible Inks
45:22 Supporting 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

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather R
• Autoclave
• Chelsea M
• Dorien VD
• Scott B
• Jessie R
• Ciara L
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette N
• Cullyn R
• Erica B
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah M
• Rachel R
• Letila
• Katrina B
• Suzanne P
• Venus R
• Lyn S
• Jacob T
• Brian K
• Emerson W
• Kristina G
• Timothy P
• Steven B
• Chris and Claire S
• Chelsea B
• Avishai B
• Hunter R

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.

Melissa and Jam explore the science behind why sweat is salty. They discuss personal experiences with sweating, the types of sweat glands, and the chemical processes involved in sweat production. The episode explains how osmosis, ion channels, and salt concentrations contribute to the movement of sweat through sweat glands to the skin's surface. They also touch on evolutionary aspects and the role of sweat in cooling the body. For anyone curious about the chemistry of everyday life, this episode offers an accessible and intriguing explanation.

00:00 Introduction: Why is Sweat Salty?
00:27 Personal Experiences with Sweat
01:32 The Science Behind Sweat
02:00 Meet the Hosts
02:20 Types of Sweat Glands
04:30 How Sweat Reaches the Skin
07:31 The Role of Salt in Sweat
14:20 Health Indicators in Sweat
17:01 Understanding Osmosis and Interstitial Fluid
17:39 Evolutionary Perspective on Sweating
20:01 Mechanism of Sweat Glands
22:41 Sweat Composition and Function
27:39 Personal Sweating Experiences
33:47 Supporting the Show and Community

★ 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:

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6773238/
2. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/lc/d3lc00874f#cit23
3. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsnano.4c10344

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Vince W
• Julie S.
• Heather R
• Autoclave
• Chelsea M
• Dorien VD
• Scott B
• Jessie R
• Ciara L
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette N
• Cullyn R
• Erica B
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah M
• Rachel R
• Letila
• Katrina B
• Suzanne P
• Venus R
• Lyn S
• Jacob T
• Brian K
• Emerson W
• Kristina G
• Timothy P
• Steven B
• Chris and Claire S
• Chelsea B
• Avishai B
• Hunter R

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.

#050

This week, Melissa and Jam once again look under the armpits of society, this time to explore sweat. Is it cool? Well does it keep us cool? How? At what cost? Is there more to sweat than meets the eye? Can you drink it? Grab your sweat bands and let's hit the track Paulie Bleeker.

References from this episode

1. Flexible and Superwettable Bands as a Platform toward Sweat Sampling and Sensing - Analytical Chemistry - Xuecheng He, Tailin Xu, Zhen Gu, Wei Gao, Li-Ping Xu, Tingrui Pan, and Xueji Zhang
2. A Fully Integrated and Self-Powered Smartwatch for Continuous Sweat Glucose Monitoring - ACS Sensors - Jiangqi Zhao, Yuanjing Lin, Jingbo Wu, Hnin Yin Yin Nyein, Mallika Bariya, Li-Chia Tai, Minghan Chao, Wenbo Ji, George Zhang, Zhiyong Fan, and Ali Javey
3. General Chemistry, Edition 2 - Flowers, Theopold, Langley, Robinson

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
• Erica Bee
• Elizabeth P
• Sarah Moar
• Rachel Reina
• Letila
• Katrina Barnum-Huckins
• Suzanne Phillips
• Nelly Silva
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
• Bri McAllister
• Avishai Barnoy
• Hunter Reardon

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.