Show overview
Chemistry For Your Life has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 404 episodes, alongside 87 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 230 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 28 min and 40 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Science show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 months ago, with 29 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2020, with 73 episodes published. Published by Bleav + For Your Life.
From the publisher
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.
Latest Episodes
View all 404 episodesHow do forensic scientists find fingerprints?
Are there new, improved ways to teach chemistry?
How does super glue glue things?
How should technology and A.I. change chemistry education?
How realistic are crime shows about forensics? (with Nicki Stewart)
What is BCCE and why are people so excited about it?
How does a pencil eraser remove graphite?
How do gemstones get their color?
How do pencils write on paper?
Ask a Chemist: What things should you never mix? (and other questions)
How was kevlar accidentally invented?
Is there a helium shortage?
How does reverse osmosis actually work?
Ask a Chemist: Is That Pool Smell Actually Chlorine? (and other questions)
How do diapers change color when wet?
Ep 42How do deodorant and antiperspirant work?
#042 What's that smell? Is it us? Is it you? We hope it's neither, thanks to deodorants and antiperspirants. This week, Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry of this everyday important substance. What are the differences between deodorant and antiperspirant? How do they work in the first place? Does one work better? Is one better for us? Be kind to one another, wear deodorant. References from this episode Individual and gender fingerprints in human body odour – Dustin J Penn, Elisabeth Oberzaucher, Karl Grammer, Gottfried Fischer, Helena A Soini, Donald Wiesler, Milos V Novotny, Sarah J Dixon, Yun Xu, and Richard G Brereton What are deodorants and antiperspirants, and how do they fight sweat? - Everts, Chemical and Engineering News Studies of trans 3 methyl 2 hexenoic acid in normal and schizophrenic humans - S. G. Gordon, K. Smith, L. Rabinowitz, P. R. Vagelos, Journal of lipid research Breast Cancer and Deodorants/Antiperspirants: A Systematic Review Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer The mechanism of eccrine sweat pore plugging by aluminium salts using microfluidics combined with small angle X-ray scattering. - Bretagne A, Cotot F, Arnaud-Roux M, Sztucki M, Cabane B, Galey JB. 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 the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Amanda Raymond Emily Morrison Kyle McCray Justine Emily Hardy Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz 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.
Ep 234More bird chemistry?!
Birds… but chemistry. What does compost have to do with eggs? How are birds basically doing chemistry experiments to make their colors? Why would a bird eat dirt… or rub ants all over itself?? This episode is a grab bag of wild, fascinating bird facts that connect back to chemistry you already know. No quiz, just vibes. 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 00:00 Bird Chemistry Vibes 02:02 Compost Egg Incubators 02:58 Feather Colors Chemistry 06:20 Seeing Ultraviolet Light 08:11 Clay Eating Detox Trick 09:28 Hot Bodies Fast Reactions 14:23 Preening Oil Waterproofing 16:15 Rainy Day Birdwatching 16:44 Anting Bird Hygiene 19:17 Seabird Feather Sunscreen 20:14 More Bird Chemistry Ahead 20:41 Bird Phobia Banter 21:19 Documentary Media Swap 22:22 Mississippi Kite Swoops 28:19 Do Birds Recognize Faces 31:12 Photo IDs and Backyard Hawks 32:34 Chicken Show Family Lore 33:00 Wrap Up and Support 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 the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Amanda Raymond Emily Morrison Kyle McCray Justine Emily Hardy Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz 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.
Ep 53What even is DEET?
#053 Rebroadcast This week, Melissa and Jam revisit one of their fav episodes on the topic of mosquitos. What is DEET? What part does it play in repelling mosquitos? How do repellants repel mosquitos in the first place? Is it just straight witchcraft? Let's do it. 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 Staph Retreat - Radiolab - WYNC https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/rachel-carson-silent-spring.html https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-080301_1-Apr-98.pdf https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-it-true-that-the-deet/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24892824/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11693870/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26827259/ https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)31167-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982219311674%3Fshowall%3Dtrue https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)31167-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982219311674%3Fshowall%3Dtrue https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/biochemistry/does-DEET-fend-off-malaria/97/web/2019/10 Thanks to our monthly supporters Amanda Raymond Emily Morrison Kyle McCray Justine Emily Hardy Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz 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.
Ep 233How do birds fly? And how is chemistry involved?!
Birds fly all the time. We see it constantly. But how does it actually work? Is it just "Bernoulli’s" principle? Is the air pushing up? Are the wings pushing down? And what’s happening at the molecular level when a bird takes off? Let’s talk about feathers, airflow, collisions between air molecules, and why the way flight is usually explained might not actually be the whole story. 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 Timestamps: 00:00 — The Question Have you ever actually wondered how birds fly? A kid’s question sparks the episode. 01:00 — “Isn’t this physics?” Why a chemistry podcast is talking about aerodynamics. 02:00 — A disclaimer about flight explanations Melissa explains why common explanations of bird flight can be misleading. 04:00 — The weird analogy that starts it all What does oobleck (cornstarch and water) have to do with bird wings? 06:00 — Air isn’t nothing Thinking about air as billions of tiny molecules interacting with wings. 09:00 — The classic explanation of lift Bernoulli’s principle and why it’s often used to explain flight. 13:00 — Why that explanation isn’t the whole story What’s missing from the “air moves faster over the top” idea. 18:00 — Collisions at the molecular level What air molecules are actually doing when a wing moves through them. 22:00 — Pushing air downward Why deflecting air matters for creating lift. 26:00 — Wing shape and angle How airfoil shape and angle of attack change the behavior of airflow. 30:00 — Flapping vs gliding Why bird flight isn’t the same as airplane flight. 34:00 — Turbulence and airflow patterns What’s happening behind the wing as the bird moves through the air. 37:00 — Bringing chemistry into the picture How thinking about molecular motion helps make sense of the physics. 39:00 — Final recap So… what actually keeps birds in the air? 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 the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Amanda Raymond Emily Morrison Kyle McCray Justine Emily Hardy Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz 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.
Fun Fact or Fake Factoid?! Game Rematch (with Claire Caballero)
bonusIn this bonus episode, we host a rematch of our game “Fun Fact or Fake Factoid” with Claire and Jam, using stricter rules: each claim must be entirely true or false as worded, and the winner earns a treat. We test statements about pregnancy-related brain changes, koala fingerprints, bird body temperature, whether every fig contains a dead wasp, how egg markings form, woodpecker tongues wrapping around their skulls, unique parrot pigments, bald eagles’ ability to take off from the ground, black bear maternal instinct, and whether red bird color is structural rather than pigment-based. 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 00:00 Rematch Setup 00:42 Rules and Stakes 02:46 Pregnancy Brain Changes 05:55 Koala Fingerprints 07:48 Bird Body Temperature Myth 11:26 Fig Wasp Debate 15:33 Egg Markings Explained 16:53 Egg Pigment Mystery 17:57 Woodpecker Tongue Wrap 19:13 Tie Breaker Rules 20:26 Parrot Pigment Class 21:18 Eagle Takeoff Myth 24:27 Bear Instinct Debate 25:19 Bird Color Science 29:54 Rematch And Submissions 31:21 Support And Credits References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Amanda Raymond Emily Morrison Kyle McCray Justine Emily Hardy Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz 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.