Chemistry For Your Life

How does bleach remove color?

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#031 Rebroadcast How does bleach bleach stuff? Oh and also, what even is color? This week Melissa and Jam investigate these questions. What's the mole...

Why are blue jeans actually dyed yellow?

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#129 Are you sitting down? Because we've got some news for you. Those blue jeans you own, they weren't actually dyed blue. They were dyed YELLOW. That...

Bonus: Is higher pH water better? (and other questions)

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 27 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about stretching molecules, s...

Why do Pop Rocks pop?

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#128 If you know what pop rocks are, then this episode will answer one of the greatest mysteries of your childhood. And if you've never heard of pop r...

What are antioxidants and are they even good for you?

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#022 Rebroadcast This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of antioxidants. What are they? Is it just magical stuff they put in sport drinks an...

How does Benzoyl Peroxide fight acne?

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#127 If you've ever had acne, you've probably tried some creams or washes with "benzoyl peroxide" somewhere on the label. How is it that thi...

Bonus: How do gasses dissolve in liquid? (and other questions)

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 26 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about fluoride, decaf coffee,...

How is coffee decaffeinated?

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#126 Coffee Part 3! So we all know coffee has caffeine in it. But what if you want your coffee... without the caffeine? Is that as impossible as wanti...

How does caffeine make you not sleepy?

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#059 Rebroadcast Ok so, caffeine. Some of us live on the stuff, and others of us want nothing to do with it. There's a lot of things caffeine can do t...

Why do tires go flat in the winter?

23 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#125 Well you've probably been there. It's the first significantly cold day of the season, and you turn your car on and the tire pressure light comes ...

Bonus: Blood in pool water? (and other questions)

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 25 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about antacids, imposter synd...

Why do we roast coffee?

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#124 Coffee Part 2! So before we brew coffee, it gets roasted. What is roasting you might ask? Well it's pretty much the stage where all the magic is ...

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#065 Rebroadcast It's Fall! You know why they call Fall Fall? Well because the leaves fall. But before that, the leaves change color. Why do they do t...

How is brewing coffee chemistry?

25 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#123 The long overdue cracking open of the door into the chemistry of coffee! First, the chemistry of what happens when you brew coffee. Check it out!...

Fall Mini 07 - Who is and isn't a chemist?

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#122 What makes someone a chemist? At what point does someone become one? Is it a defined line or is it a blurry one? Melissa shares some thoughts, as...

Fall Mini 06 - What is imposter syndrome? (with Vianet Garza)

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#121 This week we have a very special guest, Vianet Garza (LPC). She's going to talk us through something that's common in chemistry, science, and lik...

Fall Mini 05 - Is BPA really that bad for you?

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#120 This week we received an interesting email about BPA from listener and retired chemistry teacher Danny. Let's get into it. How to start a podcast...

Green Fire?!

31 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rebroadcast #015 This week Melissa and Jam explore a Halloween-themed topic, perfectly-timed for the fact that our episode air date happened to land ...

Fall Mini 04 - Icebreakers

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#119 It's time to break some ice. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!   Find us on Ins...

Fall Mini 03 - How chemistry revolutionized baking (For Melissa)

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#118 Are you an avid baker? Melissa's baking discovery may be as revolutionary for you as it was for her. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out...

Fall Mini 02 - The biochemistry of sugar?

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#116 Let's hear more about sugar from the perspective of biochemist, Caibe Alves. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast...

Fall Mini 01 - Vanilla and beaver butts?

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#116 Does vanilla come from beaver butts? Our merch store is open until October 21! -> http://bonfire.com/store/chemforyourlife/ How to start a pod...

What is vanilla? (and imitation vanilla?)

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#115 Well we've all had vanilla. And if you have a tongue then you probably like it. But the question we've all wondered each time we're baking someth...

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

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#114 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 ...

Bonus: Does elevation affect airbags? (and other questions)

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 24 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about breathalyzers, high fru...

Is there BPA in my receipt? And is that bad?

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#113 What if BPA was in something more ordinary and everywhere than a water bottle? Something seemingly innocent and inconspicuous? Like a receipt? Wo...

What does BPA free really mean?

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#112 Every time you buy a plastic water bottle or something, you probably see a sticker that says "BPA free." Pretty good news right? I mean...

How do breathalyzers detect alcohol?

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#111 How can machines tell how much alcohol is in our blood, simply from checking our breath? Is it magic, or is it chemistry? I think you know the an...

What is the ozone layer?

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#110 We've all heard about it. And most likely you've heard that it's in danger. But what is the ozone layer in the first place? And once we learn tha...

Bonus: How does weed killer not kill grass? (and other questions)

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 23 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about sugar, high fructose co...

How much urine is in an olympic size swimming pool?

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#109 Well it's no secret. Some people like to make the relaxing, refreshing environment of a pool into a toilet. It's a problem that's probably existe...

Is high fructose corn syrup bad for you?

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#108 It's got high fructose, it's somehow from corn, and it's in syrup form. What's not to like? Well maybe a lot. Or maybe not. Is it worse than suga...

What is in magic erasers? (and should you clean your teeth with them?)

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#107 By now you've already probably experienced the magic of magic erasers. But what IS the magic? How does it erase what other things cannot? And if ...

How do candles burn? (and how do you light them with smoke?)

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#106 Candles are simple enough right? Probably nothing crazy going on right? Wrong. Where does all the wax go? And how does the wick just keep on burn...

Chemistry at Home: Candle Magic

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 15 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month,...

How do batteries power our electronics?

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#105 Batteries. The mysterious little cylinders that have powered our essentials and fun for decades. How in the world do they work? What's the chemis...

Bonus: How do candy colors not mix? (and other questions)

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 22 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about dyes, onions, soaps, ca...

What is cheese? And what does it have in common with soap?

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#104 Seriously what the heck is cheese? It's a question we've all wondered, but most of us only ever know that it's from milk—but what else? How do ...

What is hyaluronic acid and is it magical?

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#103 What do roosters' combs and cows' eyeballs have that our skin needs? Let's add another chapter to the chemistry of skin care. Today we explore a ...

What is benzene and why is it in my sunscreen?

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#102 Well there's more to sunscreen than we thought. Like some super recent not so great info, about something called benzene. This is another example...

Chemistry at home: Elephant's Toothpaste

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 14 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month,...

How are airbags made of chemicals?

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#101 Ok we all get it, they save our lives, and they aren't just a really good Radiohead song. But HOW? Most of us never even need to experience airba...

Bonus: Why do bug bites itch? (and other questions)

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 21 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about bug bites, histamine, j...

CHEMISTRY QUIZ: Is Jam actually learning this stuff??

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#100 For episode 100, it's time for a TEST. Jam has been learning chemistry every week for 100 weeks, but what does he know? What does he remember? Le...

Do anti-aging products work?

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#099 The ads are everywhere. Trying to convince us to buy something to prevent or undo the wrinkles and skin damage that comes with aging. But can tho...

What’s the future of antihistamines?

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#098 Could histamine and antihistamines do more than just affect our allergies? Actually yes. Today we discuss new and recent research in the world of...

Chemistry at Home: Lifesavers in the Dark

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 13 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month,...

Why are seasonal allergies the worst?

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#097 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 ...

Bonus: What color is grass at night? (and other questions)

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 20 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about color changing markers,...

Why and how do Jellyfish sting?

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#096 What's the chemistry of a jellyfish sting? Why do they feel so different from other stings? And what can we even do when we get stung? And what a...

How do Venus flytraps trap flies?

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#095 Venus flytraps: The plants that have fascinated and freaked many of us out since we were kids. How do they do what they do? Most plants just kind...

What is the smell of fresh cut grass?

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#094 What is that iconic smell? The smell that screams spring and summer? The smell so distinct, and yet so mysterious. Why does freshly cut grass hav...

Why does american chocolate taste different?

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#093 - Chocolate Part 3 of 3 Now it's time to dive into one of chocolate's biggest mysteries. Which, depending on where you live, has been something y...

Chemistry at Home: Chocolate and Gum

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 12 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month,...

Why does chocolate get that white film on it?

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#092 - Chocolate Part 2 of 3 You know how when you were a kid, you'd sometimes find some old, forgotten halloween chocolate? But the chocolate would l...

Bonus: Do dead leaves smell like tea? (and other questions)

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 19 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about leaves, labs you can do...

What is chocolate and why is it delicious?

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#091 - Chocolate Part 1 of 3 Well you've probably never heard of chocolate, and you've almost certainly never eaten it. But if you had you might wonde...

Why does cilantro taste horrible? (to some people)

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#090 It's of the most puzzling (and heartbreaking) mysteries. Why does cilantro taste so good to some of us, but taste so bad to others of us? Is it i...

What is ebonized wood?

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#089 This question comes from a word-working listener of ours. Ebonized wood is a process that turns wood black... without burning it! But how? What's...

Chemistry at Home: Crayons

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 11 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month,...

How do color changing markers change color?

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#088 Remember those markers that would magically change colors when you marked over them with the right marker? Well while it seems very magical, it's...

Bonus: Does gunpowder explode? (and other questions)

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 18 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about gunpowder, our wellbein...

What is jam? (and jelly and preserves etc.)

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#087 Jams, jellies, preserves, marmalade. So many kinds of fruit spreads, but how are they made? How do they go from fruit to gooey spread? How are th...

What and why is maple syrup?

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#086 We all know that maple syrup is one of Canada's most popular gifts to the world, but what really is it? Why do maple trees (and other trees) even...

Why do plants die in freezing weather?

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#085 Well here in Texas, we just suffered through an intense freeze. And many a plant became a casualty of the cold, but why? What's going on at the m...

What are muscles and their cramps?

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#084 Wait, muscles are biology right? Well they're also chemistry. And guess what, muscle soreness and cramps are also chemistry. And believe it or no...

Extra Special Bonus: Time Warp!

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 18 In this month's bonus episode, we share a special old Q&R that we've had in our back pocket for almost a y...

How do bath bombs fizz?

19 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#083 This might be one of the best chances to both listen to AND experience chemistry at the same time. Grab a bath bomb, fill up the tub, and let's f...

Chemistry at Home: Vinegar and Baking Soda (with Stephanie Ryan Ph.D.)

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 10 We have a very special guest this month, Stephanie Ryan Ph.D. aka @letslearnaboutscience (on Instagram)! Stephanie...

How do sunglasses protect us?

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#082 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?...

Why do things fade in the sun?

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#081 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 molte...

What is a dryer sheet?

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#080 Dryer sheets. They smell good. They make our clothes soft. They get rid of static. But how? How is one little sheet allowed to solve that many pr...

Chemistry at Home: Pennies

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 9 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, ...

Is glass a liquid?

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#079 Glass. The more you look at it, the more clear it becomes that it holds some serious mysteries. So what really is glass? Is it a liquid? How is i...

Bonus: Why does my bread taste like a banana? (and other questions)

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 17 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about salt, bread that tastes...

Why do cornstarch and water do that thing?

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#078 It's one of life's most head-scratchy questions, and one of the most popular chemistry mysteries for youtubers. So let's get to the bottom of thi...

What is iodized salt? And why?

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#077 Who's doing what to our salt? What's iodine, do we need it, why, and how do they get it in there? This week Melissa and Jam dive head first into ...

How do fireworks use chemistry to look awesome?

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#076 Happy New Years Eve! Let's all kiss 2020 a speedy (not speedy enough) goodbye and look at some beautiful exploding lights! And why not look at th...

Chemistry at Home: Diapers

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 8 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, ...

What are LEDs and how do they light up?

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#075 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 us...

Bonus: Enzymes eat plastic? (and other questions)

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 16 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about enzymes that eat plasti...

How do we see our breath in the air?

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#074 This time of year, it's a common occurrence, something so common that we might not even wonder about it anymore. But really, why do we see our br...

What is silver tarnish?

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#073 Well if you haven't experienced silver tarnish yourself, then you've almost certainly heard people complain about it. Can anything last? These sp...

How do odor absorbers work?

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#072 You know what they say, everyone's experienced odors, and 99.99% of all odors smell. We have room sprays, candles, air fresheners, etc. But how c...

Chemistry at Home: Leaf Pigments

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 7 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, ...

What happens to eggs when we cook them? (with Jason Cress)

26 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#071 It's time to crack into one of life's great mysteries: eggs. So what happens when we cook them?! How do they go from clear goo to white jiggle? T...

Bonus: Can equilibrium occur in any state of matter? (and other questions)

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 15 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about equilibrium, recycling ...

How do diapers absorb liquid?

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#070 Ok parents. It's time to explore the chemistry of something we rely on every hour of every day: diapers. What the heck is going on inside there? ...

How is nail polish chemistry?

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#069 There's this stuff, you've probably heard of it, that you can put on 10-20 specific places on your body, and it stays there, and it can be differ...

Is science always right?

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#068 This week we issue a correction, joining other science publications issuing the same correction. That's kind of an obvious answer to the question...

How do glowsticks glow?

29 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#067 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 ...

Chemistry at Home: Cabbage Juice

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 6 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, ...

What IS lavender oil?

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#066 This week we take a teeny tiny step into the vast, intimidating sea of essential oils. Not to worry, we're sticking to the chemistry. And we're e...

Bonus: How do you remove superglue from your fingers? (and other questions)

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 14 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about buying renewable items,...

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

15 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#065 It's Fall! You know why they call Fall Fall? Well because the leaves fall. But before that, the leaves change color. Why do they do that? How? Is...

What's the future of recycling?

08 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#064 Part 3 of 3 on plastic! This week we look to the future. Is there hope to overcome our piles of plastic? What new ways of recycling are coming do...

Is plastic really recyclable?

01 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#063 This is part 2 of 3 on plastic, so check out last week's episode if you haven't yet! This week, Melissa and Jam dive into one of the weightiest q...

Chemistry at Home: Slime

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 5 Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, ...

What is plastic?

24 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

#062 Think about it for a second, plastic is everywhere. What plastic things are around you right now? What plastic things do you use everyday? This w...

Bonus: Why doesn’t superglue harden in the tube? (and other questions)

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 13 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about gasoline, super glue, s...