Chemistry For Your Life

by Melissa and Jam, Bleav

NewChemistry at Home: Leaf PigmentsNovember 12, 2026 · 16 min

Episodes: 428
Released: weekly
Latest episode: Nov 12, 2026

About the podcast

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.

Episodes 428

Chemistry at Home: Leaf Pigments
November 12, 202616 minBonus
Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 7 (Rebroadcast) Here's a bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we cut up different colors …
Show notes
Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 7 (Rebroadcast)
Here's a bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we cut up different colors of leaves, put them in alcohol, mash them up, and soak a coffee filter in them.
Do you like and want more of these? Is there a way we could make them better? Let us know!
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References
- The Science of Leaves from KristinMoonScience
Thanks to our monthly supporters:
Sara Hull
Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Amanda Raymond
Ash
Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Why do leaves change color in the Fall?
November 5, 202633 minEpisode 65
#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 that? How? Is there any sort of function to it? Do the …
Show notes
#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 that? How? Is there any sort of function to it? Do the different colors mean anything? Let's dive into this overdue, colorful topic.
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References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Sara Hull
Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
Justine
Ash
Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Why do skunks smell so bad? (and is there anything we can do about it?)
October 29, 202653 minEpisode 250
What makes skunk spray smell so astonishingly bad, and why can the odor come roaring back whenever a sprayed dog gets wet? Are humans unusually sensitive to skunk smell? Does tomato juice actually remove it, or …
Show notes
What makes skunk spray smell so astonishingly bad, and why can the odor come roaring back whenever a sprayed dog gets wet? Are humans unusually sensitive to skunk smell? Does tomato juice actually remove it, or have cartoons been lying to us for decades? In this spooky episode, Melissa and Jam investigate skunk spray, sulfur compounds, olfaction, odor removal, and the chemistry behind a smell that simply refuses to die.
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Timestamps
00:00 – A spooky question: Why do skunks smell so bad?
02:43 – The listener question that inspired the episode
04:33 – The chemical family hiding inside skunk spray
08:46 – Why our noses are incredibly sensitive to sulfur compounds
11:38 – How skunks weaponized a smell mammals already hate
12:43 – Why skunk odor can return when it gets wet
17:00 – Drawing out the surprising water-triggered reaction
21:07 – Jam’s teach-back: skunk chemistry explained
31:11 – Does tomato juice actually remove skunk smell?
32:55 – What chemistry suggests might work instead
34:44 – Skunk species, warning signs, and spray strategy
37:58 – Melissa’s baby-skunk rescue and other skunk encounters
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
Justine
Ash
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Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Ask a Chemist: How long do you microwave ice cream? (and other questions)
October 22, 202645 minBonus
Why does microwaving ice cream for two five-second bursts feel different from microwaving it once for ten seconds? Can a science podcast make chemistry accessible without accidentally wrapping complicated ideas …
Show notes
Why does microwaving ice cream for two five-second bursts feel different from microwaving it once for ten seconds? Can a science podcast make chemistry accessible without accidentally wrapping complicated ideas in answers that feel a little too neat—and what do seeds know about light that we don’t? Melissa and Jam tackle those questions along with protons versus neutrons, refrigerant patents, leaded gasoline, and an important conversation about unexpected ads. It’s a Q&R episode featuring chemistry off the cuff, educational soul-searching, listener corrections, and an unusually serious investigation into optimal ice cream texture.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Melissa turns the questions on Jam
00:42 — How long should you microwave ice cream?
02:09 — Why two five-second bursts differ from ten continuous seconds
06:43 — How melting and refreezing changes ice cream’s texture
08:25 — Is the podcast making chemistry too easy?
11:00 — Do analogies encourage curiosity or provide overly tidy answers?
17:51 — Jam’s perspective as the podcast’s non-chemist learner
20:15 — Why “that’s just how it is” can end scientific inquiry
25:52 — How can seeds detect light through soil?
31:37 — Yes, Melissa knows the difference between protons and neutrons
35:15 — Patents, leaded gasoline, and the refrigerant industry
37:26 — An important note about gambling ads and podcast platforms
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
Sara Hull
Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
Justine
Ash
Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Is personification helpful or harmful in science?
October 15, 20261 h 5 minEpisode 249
Do atoms “want” full electron shells, do molecules “prefer” stability, and are electrons really “attacking” each other? Or could it be that while personifying molecules might be quietly teaching us the wrong …
Show notes
Do atoms “want” full electron shells, do molecules “prefer” stability, and are electrons really “attacking” each other? Or could it be that while personifying molecules might be quietly teaching us the wrong ideas? Chemistry education researcher Jessie Stenlund joins Melissa and Jam to investigate anthropomorphism, analogies, scientific language, and why a satisfying explanation isn’t necessarily an accurate one. Along the way, Melissa reckons with learning that one of her strongest teaching opinions might need revisiting.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Melissa discovers she may have been teaching something wrong
00:52 — Meet chemistry education researcher Jessie Stenlund
04:17 — Why does iron rust?
08:59 — What counts as anthropomorphizing molecules?
11:09 — Why personification makes chemistry easier to learn
15:17 — When chemistry’s official language already sounds human
18:49 — How personification can confuse cause and effect
24:58 — Oversimplification, unfalsifiable claims, and chemical evidence
34:07 — When scientific shorthand replaces real understanding
36:52 — Do students think atoms and molecules are alive?
40:48 — Can satisfying explanations stop us from asking questions?
47:35 — Are electrons really “attacking” other molecules?
52:09 — How to personify chemistry more responsibly
57:00 — Finding the right balance for different learners
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
Justine
Ash
Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Is science always right?
October 8, 202635 minEpisode 68
Rebroadcast #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 of "Is science always right?" So in this …
Show notes
Rebroadcast #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 of "Is science always right?" So in this episode we explore that question, as well as what happens when science isn't right. And why that's NOT a bad thing.
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References from this episode
1. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2019/citrus-scent-debunked.html
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jfq.12226
3. Chemistry by Julia Burdge
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Autoclave
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J0HNTR0Y
Cullyn R
Erica Bee
Elizabeth P
Rachel Reina
Letila
Katrina Barnum-Huckins
Suzanne Phillips
Venus Rebholz
Jacob Taber
Brian Kimball
Kristina Gotfredsen
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Steven Boyles
Chris Skupien
Chelsea B
Avishai Barnoy
Hunter Reardon
Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel
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Can leftovers be healthier than freshly cooked food?
October 1, 202645 minEpisode 248
Can cooking pasta, rice, or bread, and then cooling it down, actually make it healthier? Could yesterday’s leftovers affect your blood sugar differently than a freshly cooked meal, or is this just another …
Show notes
Can cooking pasta, rice, or bread, and then cooling it down, actually make it healthier? Could yesterday’s leftovers affect your blood sugar differently than a freshly cooked meal, or is this just another nutrition “hack” invented by the internet? Melissa and Jam investigate starch, glucose, insulin, digestion, crystallization, and the surprising chemistry that happens while your food sits in the fridge. Plus, the whole thing somehow turns into a Lord of the Rings battle involving glucose, hobbits, and ents, because of course it does.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Can cooking and cooling starch make it healthier?
03:52 — Why bread, pasta, and rice get a bad reputation
04:36 — Starch: a polymer made from glucose
07:03 — How glucose, insulin, and blood sugar work
09:25 — The internet’s cook-cool-reheat claim
12:14 — What crystallization has to do with leftovers
14:43 — How starch changes as cooked food cools
15:48 — What is resistant starch?
17:20 — Studies on reheated bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes
19:51 — Resistant starch, fiber, and your gut bacteria
21:26 — Can repeated reheating make even more resistant starch?
23:14 — Jam explains resistant starch using Lord of the Rings
30:44 — A free food hack with actual science behind it
34:49 — Melissa and Jam’s favorite starchy meals
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Dog Day Dan
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Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Ask a Chemist: What is "natural gas?" (and other questions)
September 24, 202626 minBonus
What’s actually flowing through the “natural gas” pipes connected to your home—and did we get something wrong in our air-conditioning series? Which careers can an organic chemistry student pursue, how do …
Show notes
What’s actually flowing through the “natural gas” pipes connected to your home—and did we get something wrong in our air-conditioning series? Which careers can an organic chemistry student pursue, how do topical pain-relief gels work, and what could make a successful HIV medication suddenly stop working? Melissa and Jam answer listener questions, revisit past episodes, correct the record, and stumble into a genuinely fascinating pharmaceutical mystery. Plus, could more chemistry history and chemistry-education stories be coming to the podcast?
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Timestamps
00:00 — Another round of listener chemistry questions
02:04 — Correction: methane, propane, and household natural gas
04:01 — How European AC systems handle propane safely
05:47 — Could more chemistry-education episodes be coming?
07:33 — The overlooked women and stories of chemistry
09:20 — What careers involve organic chemistry?
12:20 — A science teacher tackles the chemistry Praxis exam
13:38 — Do apples and human skin use the same protective pigment?
15:22 — Resources for learning organic chemistry
16:32 — How do topical pain-relief gels work?
19:35 — The HIV medication that suddenly stopped working
20:52 — How one crystal can transform an entire batch
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Dog Day Dan
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Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Is red light therapy real or a scam?
September 17, 202648 minEpisode 247
Can shining a red light on your face really improve acne, wrinkles, inflammation, or wound healing, or is red light therapy just an expensive skincare scam involving a slightly alarming mask? How could ordinary …
Show notes
Can shining a red light on your face really improve acne, wrinkles, inflammation, or wound healing, or is red light therapy just an expensive skincare scam involving a slightly alarming mask? How could ordinary visible light affect cells beneath your skin, and should you trust the products filling your social media feed? Melissa and Jam investigate photobiomodulation, mitochondria, collagen, blue light, FDA clearance, and the research behind this increasingly popular wellness trend. The answer is more scientifically interesting, and more complicated, than either of them expected.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Is red light therapy real or a scam?
03:41 — How light transfers energy to molecules
06:24 — Is red light therapy actually infrared?
08:03 — How deeply can visible light penetrate your skin?
09:34 — What red light may do inside your mitochondria
12:00 — Oxygen transport and other possible mechanisms
13:39 — Could red light trigger collagen production and healing?
16:26 — What scientists know—and still don’t understand
20:45 — Red light, blue light, inflammation, and acne
30:03 — The major problems with current red light research
33:20 — What FDA clearance does—and doesn’t—mean
35:20 — How to evaluate a red light therapy device
40:04 — So, should you buy a red light mask?
44:06 — A new series idea: Is it a scam or is it chemistry?
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Summer Alden
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Kyle McCray
Justine
Ash
Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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What the heck is going on inside microwaves?
September 10, 202624 minEpisode 7
#007 Rebroadcast Melissa finally explains to Jam how microwaves work after making him wait for an entire week. What the heck is going on inside microwaves? How does it do it's thing and make our food tasty? Is …
Show notes
#007 Rebroadcast
Melissa finally explains to Jam how microwaves work after making him wait for an entire week. What the heck is going on inside microwaves? How does it do it's thing and make our food tasty? Is it magic?
Support this podcast on Patreon
Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com
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Thanks to our monthly supporters
Sara Hull
Dog Day Dan
Bri .
Summer Alden
Amanda Raymond
Kyle McCray
Justine
Ash
Vince W
Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Which chemistry lessons will we never forget? (Happy Chemiversary!)
September 3, 20261 h 14 minEpisode 246
What happens when a chemist and a non-chemist make a podcast together for seven years? Which chemistry lessons stuck, which episode ideas spectacularly refused to cooperate, and does Jam still count as a …
Show notes
What happens when a chemist and a non-chemist make a podcast together for seven years? Which chemistry lessons stuck, which episode ideas spectacularly refused to cooperate, and does Jam still count as a layperson after all this time? Joined by returning guest Claire, Melissa and Jam celebrate the seventh anniversary of Chemistry For Your Life with listener questions, behind-the-scenes stories, friendship reflections, favorite science facts, and one very large chemistry cookie cake. Come for the chemiversary; stay for the long-running argument about reality TV.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Celebrating seven years of Chemistry For Your Life
01:01 — Special guest Claire—and a chemistry cookie cake
03:04 — Nearly two million downloads and meeting listeners in real life
06:05 — What has the podcast done that Melissa and Jam never expected?
10:34 — The biggest surprises about making a podcast
16:35 — What has changed most over the past seven years?
18:30 — How the podcast changed Melissa and Jam’s friendship
25:24 — What would their past selves think of the show today?
27:24 — Episodes and guest collaborations that never panned out
35:02 — How has Jam used seven years of chemistry in everyday life?
39:09 — Is Jam still a chemistry layperson?
47:40 — Which chemistry concepts are hardest for Jam to understand?
52:12 — Their favorite things they’ve learned from the podcast
01:04:06 — Where do they hope to take the show next?
References from the Episode:
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Dog Day Dan
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Summer Alden
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Julie S.
Heather Ragusa
Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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Can water air-condition your house?
August 27, 202632 minEpisode 245
What exactly is a swamp cooler, and why can it beat the heat in Arizona but leave you sweaty and betrayed in Houston? How can an air conditioner run on water, what does humidity have to do with its …
Show notes
What exactly is a swamp cooler, and why can it beat the heat in Arizona but leave you sweaty and betrayed in Houston? How can an air conditioner run on water, what does humidity have to do with its effectiveness, and could an icy new invention help prevent overloaded power grids? In the final installment of our air-conditioning series, Melissa and Jam explore evaporative cooling, ancient climate-control tricks, and some promising innovations for a hotter world. It turns out “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” is more scientifically accurate, and more annoying, than we’d like.
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Timestamps
00:00 — The happier finale to our air-conditioning trilogy
00:37 — What exactly is a swamp cooler?
02:34 — How water can be used as a refrigerant
04:16 — The benefits and drawbacks of evaporative cooling
06:26 — Why air can only hold so much water
08:08 — How much can a swamp cooler lower the temperature?
08:56 — Why swamp coolers only work in certain climates
09:47 — Are refrigerants basically reusable sweat?
12:55 — Jam explains the complete swamp-cooler process
15:45 — Ancient evaporative cooling technology
17:19 — Could swamp coolers affect indoor air quality?
18:40 — An ice-slurry air conditioner designed to relieve the power grid
25:06 — Could underground temperatures heat and cool our homes?
References from the Episode:
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Autoclave
Dorien VD
Scott Beyer
Jessie Reder
J0HNTR0Y
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
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What’s the dark side of air conditioning?
August 20, 202653 minEpisode 244
Could a cheaper, more environmentally friendly refrigerant already exist, and could corporate lobbying be helping keep it out of American air conditioners? Why did the chemicals once hailed as safe alternatives …
Show notes
Could a cheaper, more environmentally friendly refrigerant already exist, and could corporate lobbying be helping keep it out of American air conditioners? Why did the chemicals once hailed as safe alternatives become environmental villains, and are their replacements actually much better? Melissa and Jam follow the twisty history of Freon, ozone depletion, greenhouse gases, propane, and air-conditioning regulations to find out why choosing a refrigerant is never as simple as “this one works.” Grab your red string and conspiracy board, because the chemistry drama is heating up.
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Timestamps
00:00 — The chemistry and drama hiding inside refrigerants
02:31 — Is propane an ideal refrigerant?
05:37 — How an AC episode became an eight-hour research rabbit hole
09:57 — What makes a good—and safe—refrigerant?
11:19 — The hazardous chemicals used in early refrigeration
12:08 — The invention of Freon and chlorofluorocarbons
13:18 — How CFCs damage the ozone layer
16:40 — The Montreal Protocol and the next generation of refrigerants
18:08 — Solving ozone depletion while worsening global warming
22:24 — Why isn’t propane widely used in American air conditioners?
25:35 — How US refrigerant regulations differ from international standards
29:02 — The document requesting government protection for synthetic refrigerants
40:42 — What conspiracy theories might actually be true?
50:00 — Coming next: the surprisingly cool science of swamp coolers
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Reddit Chemistry: Why do metals make different-colored flames? (and other questions)
August 13, 202646 minBonus
What happens when a chemist ventures onto Reddit to answer the internet’s most pressing science questions? Why does carbon get its own entire branch of chemistry, what makes fireworks burn different colors, and …
Show notes
What happens when a chemist ventures onto Reddit to answer the internet’s most pressing science questions? Why does carbon get its own entire branch of chemistry, what makes fireworks burn different colors, and can an invention work even when its inventor has no idea why? Melissa and Jam tackle those mysteries, plus laboratory disasters, stress recovery, wireless charging, and one surprisingly complicated “Am I the Jerk?” dilemma. It’s chemistry support for the internet, because Reddit clearly has plenty of need for it.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Chemistry Support: answering Reddit’s science questions
01:30 — A chemist’s biggest “oh shoot” laboratory moments
05:36 — Jam’s alarming muriatic acid spill story
09:28 — Can inventors discover something without knowing how it works?
11:49 — Why does wireless charging feel like magic?
16:50 — Why does carbon get its own branch of chemistry?
24:30 — Why do metals make flames different colors?
26:51 — What are some science-backed ways to recover from stress?
28:10 — Completing the body’s stress cycle
31:42 — Why rest isn’t optional—even for busy people
32:03 — “Am I the Jerk?”: A student, a failed class, and an awkward favor
36:01 — What grades really tell professors about their students
References from the Episode:
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How does your AC actually make cold air?
August 6, 202639 minEpisode 243
Is your air conditioner secretly doing chemistry while you’re inside pretending summer doesn’t exist? How does it turn hot air into cool air, and why does part of the AC blow out even more heat? In this …
Show notes
Is your air conditioner secretly doing chemistry while you’re inside pretending summer doesn’t exist? How does it turn hot air into cool air, and why does part of the AC blow out even more heat? In this episode, Melissa and Jam crack open the mysterious black box of air conditioning to explore refrigerants, phase changes, energy transfer, and the surprisingly clever science keeping your house livable. Plus: frozen AC coils, summer survival drinks, and the beginning of Hibiscus Girl Summer.
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Timestamps
00:00 — Could we survive a Texas summer without air conditioning?
01:52 — Opening the mysterious black box that is your AC
02:50 — Traditional air conditioners vs. swamp coolers
03:33 — The two chemistry concepts behind air conditioning
04:38 — Understanding energy transfer through human collisions
05:49 — Phase changes explained using a crowded theater
10:30 — How an AC removes energy from hot air
14:20 — What happens inside the refrigerant coils
15:46 — Cooling and recycling the refrigerant
18:50 — Do refrigerators work the same way?
23:19 — Why would ice form inside a broken AC?
28:42 — Our favorite treats and drinks for surviving hot weather
References from the Episode:
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Why do diet coke and mentos do that thing?
July 30, 202631 minEpisode 44
#044 Rebroadcast You know what we're talking about. That spectacular fizzy geyser. This week, Melissa and Jam explore what makes diet coke and mentos go crazy together. Is it love? Is it hate? Is it chemistry? …
Show notes
#044 Rebroadcast
You know what we're talking about. That spectacular fizzy geyser. This week, Melissa and Jam explore what makes diet coke and mentos go crazy together. Is it love? Is it hate? Is it chemistry? Why diet coke specifically? Or more importantly, why mentos? Let's get into it.
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References from this episode
Thanks to our monthly supporters
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Autoclave
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Cullyn R
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Why do people hate organic chemistry?
July 23, 202653 minEpisode 135
#135 Rebroadcast Well guess what, Melissa is a PhD Doctor now! And you know what that means? She gets to tell us more details about the research she did to get her PhD. Listen to hear what Melissa found as she …
Show notes
#135 Rebroadcast
Well guess what, Melissa is a PhD Doctor now! And you know what that means? She gets to tell us more details about the research she did to get her PhD. Listen to hear what Melissa found as she dove deep into the question "Why do people hate organic chemistry?" for the past few years.
References from this episode
1. National Research Council, (2012), Discipline-based education research: Understanding and improving learning in undergraduate science and engineering, The National Academies Press.
2. Graulich N., (2015), The tip of the iceberg in organic chemistry classes: How do students deal with the invisible? Chem. Educ. Res. Pract., 16(1), 9–21.
3. Xu X. and Lewis J. E., (2011), Refinement of a chemistry attitude measure for college students. J. Chem. Educ., 88(5), 561–568.
4. Gibbons R. E. and Raker J. R., (2019), Self-beliefs in organic chemistry: Evaluation of a reciprocal causation, cross-lagged model. J. Res. Sci. Teach., 56(5), 598–618.
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What if the system needs fixing instead of the students? (BCCE 2026)
July 20, 202629 minBonus
What if the biggest challenge in chemistry education isn’t helping students survive—but helping them thrive? In this final bonus episode of our BCCE Community Conversation series, Melissa talks with Dr. Leyte …
Show notes
What if the biggest challenge in chemistry education isn’t helping students survive—but helping them thrive? In this final bonus episode of our BCCE Community Conversation series, Melissa talks with Dr. Leyte Winfield about creating learning environments where students feel like they belong. They discuss moving beyond “weed-out” culture, designing courses that maintain high standards while expanding opportunity, and why the future of chemistry depends on empowering talented students rather than simply filtering them out. It’s a fitting conclusion to a series all about rethinking how we teach and learn chemistry.
Important Links
Timestamps
- 0:00 – Introducing the final BCCE Community Conversation
- 2:40 – Meet Leyte Winfield and the vision behind “Shifting the Equilibrium”
- 4:25 – From “weed out” culture to empowering student success
- 9:30 – Success-oriented vs. deficit-oriented teaching
- 13:30 – Practical ways to help students thrive without lowering standards
- 16:00 – Open deadlines, accountability, and lessons from COVID
- 18:40 – Connecting chemistry to students’ everyday lives
- 20:00 – Why organic chemistry shouldn’t be about memorization
- 22:20 – Rethinking mentoring and preparing the next generation of chemists
- 27:40 – Wrapping up the BCCE series and looking ahead
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What’s really happening when our hair gets damaged?
July 16, 202635 minBonus
#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 molecular …
Show notes
#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 molecular level? Let's find out!
References from this episode
1. Biochemistry, Edition 4 - Garret and Grisham
2. Making waves: The chemistry of hair perms - Christine Herman, Chemistry & Engineering News
3. How Did the 80s Get Hair So Big? - American Chemical Society
4. The Chemistry of Hair - C. S. Whewell, Ph.D., F.R.I.C., F.T.I.
5. The Science of Curls - Leidamarie Tirado-Lee
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What does neurodiversity mean for chemistry education? (BCCE 2026)
July 13, 202631 minBonus
How do we build chemistry classrooms where more students can thrive? In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Matt Mio about neurodiversity in chemistry education. They discuss why …
Show notes
How do we build chemistry classrooms where more students can thrive? In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Matt Mio about neurodiversity in chemistry education. They discuss why every student experiences learning differently, how understanding those differences can make us better teachers and colleagues, and why creating more accessible learning environments benefits far more people than we might expect. It’s a thoughtful conversation about curiosity, empathy, and what it means to teach the whole student.
Important Links
Timestamps
- 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation on neurodiversity
- 2:40 – Meet Matt Mio and why this topic matters to him
- 6:10 – What the BCCE session will explore: students and faculty
- 11:00 – Why more educators are thinking differently about neurodiversity
- 14:00 – Melissa’s ADHD journey and designing courses that help everyone
- 18:30 – Questions to bring back to your own teaching community
- 19:10 – Universal Design for Learning and meeting students where they are
- 24:00 – Why awareness is the best place to start
- 25:30 – ADHD “superpowers” and different ways of thinking
- 28:00 – Looking ahead to the Community Conversation at BCCE
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What’s the chemistry behind hairspray?
July 9, 20261 h 2 minEpisode 242
Hairspray seems simple… until you actually stop and think about it. How does it come out as a fine mist? Why doesn’t it dry up inside the can? How can it hold your hair in place without acting like glue? This …
Show notes
Hairspray seems simple… until you actually stop and think about it. How does it come out as a fine mist? Why doesn’t it dry up inside the can? How can it hold your hair in place without acting like glue? This week we’re unpacking the surprisingly clever chemistry behind one of the most common products in our homes—and discovering it’s far more complicated than either of us expected.
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Timestamps
- 0:00 – A question inspired by our forensics episode: what is hairspray?
- 4:40 – The three ingredients inside a can of hairspray
- 10:40 – How the propellant turns liquid into a fine aerosol spray
- 18:30 – How polymers create an invisible “hairnet”
- 29:00 – Why designing hairspray is harder than you might expect
- 36:20 – How hairspray compares to gel and mousse
- 45:50 – Fun categories: movies, cast iron, and things that turned out to be more complicated than expected
References from the Episode:
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How can chemistry teachers learn from each other? (BCCE 2026)
July 6, 202633 minBonus
Great teaching doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry educator Dr. Joanne Stewart about communities of practice …
Show notes
Great teaching doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry educator Dr. Joanne Stewart about communities of practice: groups of educators who come together to share ideas, solve problems, and help one another grow. They explore why teaching is hard to improve on your own, how these communities support both faculty and students, and why meaningful change in chemistry education depends on building relationships, not just sharing resources.
Important Links
Timestamps
- 0:00 – Introducing the BCCE Community Conversation series
- 2:40 – Meet Joanne Stewart and her work in chemistry education
- 5:10 – What is a community of practice?
- 8:20 – How educators can get involved (even as a “lurker”)
- 11:50 – Sharing teaching resources and learning from one another
- 15:30 – Building a “community of communities” in chemistry
- 18:50 – What this year’s Community Conversation will explore
- 23:50 – Why lasting educational change requires strong networks
- 29:20 – BCCE events, communities to explore, and final invitations
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Ask a Chemist: Is Silicone actually safe? (and other questions)
July 2, 202636 minBonus
What happens when some listeners challenge one of our past episodes? This week we’re revisiting our silicone episodes after several listeners pointed us toward new research. Along the way we answer questions …
Show notes
What happens when some listeners challenge one of our past episodes? This week we’re revisiting our silicone episodes after several listeners pointed us toward new research. Along the way we answer questions about mosquito wristbands, waterproof mascara, stubborn adhesives, and whether amino acids may have formed on the early Earth after all. It’s an Ask a Chemist episode full of updates, follow-ups, and a reminder that science is always a work in progress.
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Timestamps
- 0:00 – Revisiting our silicone episodes after new research
- 2:00 – Does silicone really leach into food, and should we be worried?
- 10:30 – What we know (and don’t know) about silicone safety
- 17:30 – Do mosquito patches and wristbands actually work?
- 23:30 – How does waterproof mascara stay waterproof?
- 27:20 – A chemistry detour: removing paint and stubborn adhesives
- 30:20 – The Miller–Urey experiment and the origin of amino acids
- 33:20 – Wrap-up + send us your chemistry questions
References from the Episode:
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How can we apply chemistry to real-world problems in the classroom? (BCCE 2026)
June 29, 202635 minBonus
What if chemistry classes were organized around real-world problems instead of chapters in a textbook?In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Vicente Talanquer about helping …
Show notes
What if chemistry classes were organized around real-world problems instead of chapters in a textbook?In this bonus BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with Vicente Talanquer about helping students think like chemists rather than simply memorize chemistry. They explore why authentic, real-world problems can transform learning, how instructors can make meaningful changes without rewriting an entire course, and why teaching chemistry is about developing a way of thinking—not just delivering content.
Important Links
Free resources Chemical Thinking Curriculum Structure: https://sites.google.com/site/chemicalthinking/structure
More on Chemical Thinking Curriculum: https://sites.google.com/site/chemicalthinking/
General Chemistry - CLUE textbook & activities: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/clue/general-chemistry.aspx
Organic Chemistry OCLUE textbook & activities: https://www.chemistry.msu.edu/clue/organic-chemistry.aspx
Time Stamps
- 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation series
- 2:40 – Meet Vicente Talanquer and this year’s discussion topic
- 4:10 – What does “authentic phenomena” actually mean?
- 7:40 – Memorization vs. meaningful understanding
- 12:10 – The two big questions guiding the Community Conversation
- 16:25 – What an authentically engaged chemistry classroom looks like
- 21:40 – Where should instructors begin making changes?
- 24:30 – Formative vs. summative assessment
- 26:50 – Free teaching resources and curriculum examples
- 30:50 – Why Vicente is excited about this year’s BCCE conversations
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How do forensic scientists find fingerprints? (with Nicki Stewart)
June 25, 202655 minEpisode 241
There are a lot more ways to reveal a fingerprint than the black powder you see on TV.In this second part of our forensic chemistry series with Nicki Stewart, we explore the surprising chemistry behind …
Show notes
There are a lot more ways to reveal a fingerprint than the black powder you see on TV.In this second part of our forensic chemistry series with Nicki Stewart, we explore the surprising chemistry behind fingerprints. From powders and iodine vapor to super glue fumes and chemical reactions, we break down how forensic scientists reveal invisible fingerprints—and why choosing the right method depends entirely on the surface, the chemistry, and the evidence they’re trying to preserve.
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- 0:00 – What are fingerprints, really?
- 5:30 – What’s actually left behind when you touch something?
- 9:20 – The two main categories of fingerprint detection
- 14:00 – How fingerprint powder actually works
- 18:40 – Iodine fuming and why fingerprints disappear again
- 25:25 – Revealing fingerprints on sticky tape
- 29:40 – Ninhydrin and the chemistry behind purple fingerprints
- 35:05 – The surprising science of super glue fuming
- 42:20 – Why collecting fingerprints is much harder than TV makes it look
- 46:10 – Jam’s biggest takeaways from fingerprint chemistry
References from the Episode:
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Are there new, improved ways to teach chemistry? (BCCE 2026)
June 22, 202637 minBonus
What does it mean to teach chemistry like a scientist? In this BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry education researcher Ellen Yezierski about scholarly teaching: making …
Show notes
What does it mean to teach chemistry like a scientist? In this BCCE Community Conversation preview, Melissa talks with chemistry education researcher Ellen Yezierski about scholarly teaching: making evidence-guided decisions about how we teach and how students learn. They discuss why content knowledge alone isn’t enough, how educators can improve their teaching without becoming full-time researchers, and why some of the best chemistry teaching ideas come from asking better questions about learning.
Important Links
Time Stamps
0:00 – Why Melissa loves BCCE and chemistry education 2:50 – Meet Ellen Yezierski and the idea of scholarly teaching 4:00 – Moving beyond intuition and using evidence to improve teaching 6:35 – What chemistry educators can learn from cognitive science and education research 8:30 – The biggest challenge: finding time to improve your teaching 11:00 – Why conferences and community matter for innovation 13:45 – Barriers to evidence-based teaching and the risk of changing what’s familiar 16:20 – Applying the same scientific scrutiny to old teaching methods 19:40 – A practical first step toward scholarly teaching 21:00 – Finding useful teaching research without getting overwhelmed 25:20 – Meet the panelists and the ideas they’ll bring to BCCE 29:10 – How the Community Conversation will work 32:35 – Why good teachers are made, not born 34:00 – Filling your teaching cup back up at BCCE
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How does super glue glue things?
June 18, 202631 minEpisode 61
#061 Be honest. Have you ever glued yourself with super glue? Everyone should accidentally make that mistake at least once, so you can literally feel the impressive stickiness of super glue. Well today, you can …
Show notes
#061
Be honest. Have you ever glued yourself with super glue? Everyone should accidentally make that mistake at least once, so you can literally feel the impressive stickiness of super glue. Well today, you can learn about the chemistry within super glue, without putting any fingers or other body parts at risk! Let's do this.
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How could technology and A.I. change chemistry education? (BCCE 2026)
June 15, 202633 min
AI is everywhere in education right now, but is that the only technology chemistry educators should be thinking about? In this bonus BCCE preview episode, Melissa talks with Resa Kelly about technology in …
Show notes
AI is everywhere in education right now, but is that the only technology chemistry educators should be thinking about?
In this bonus BCCE preview episode, Melissa talks with Resa Kelly about technology in chemistry education, from visualizations and videos to flipped classrooms and AI. What do we actually want students to be able to do in a technology-rich world? How should that shape our teaching? And how can educators stay curious without feeling pressured to adopt every new tool that comes along?
Important Links
Time Stamps
- 0:00 – Introducing the Community Conversation on technology
- 1:11 – Resa Kelly’s journey into chemistry education research
- 2:20 – How visualizations and animations help students learn chemistry
- 3:31 – Why this conversation is about more than just AI
- 5:50 – Technology already shaping chemistry classrooms
- 7:20 – Staying curious even if you’re skeptical of new technology
- 9:10 – Time constraints and practical barriers for teachers
- 10:00 – Creative ways educators are using AI
- 14:15 – Teaching students to evaluate trustworthy information
- 17:13 – The central question: What should students be able to do in a technology-rich environment?
- 18:20 – Is technology helping students learn or just complete tasks?
- 19:00 – If AI gives answers, what are we really teaching?
- 24:00 – Why these conversations matter beyond BCCE
- 28:15 – Assumptions, AI, and trusting students
- 30:05 – Final thoughts and invitation to the conference conversation
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How realistic are crime shows about forensics? (with Nicki Stewart)
June 11, 202637 minBonus
CSI makes forensic science look fast, easy, and almost magical. But how much of that is actually true?This week we’re joined by forensic chemist and graduate student Nicki Stewart to answer your questions about …
Show notes
CSI makes forensic science look fast, easy, and almost magical. But how much of that is actually true?This week we’re joined by forensic chemist and graduate student Nicki Stewart to answer your questions about forensic science. We talk about crime shows, fingerprints, toxicology, illicit drugs, and what really happens inside a forensic laboratory. Plus, Nicki shares what surprised her most when she worked in a real crime lab and why forensic science is often much slower (and more complicated) than TV would have you believe.
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Time Stamps
- 0:00 – Do crime shows get forensics right?
- 1:20 – Nicki’s background in forensic chemistry and toxicology
- 6:15 – From forensic chemistry to chemistry education
- 9:10 – The “CSI Effect” and common TV misconceptions
- 12:30 – Breaking Bad, Project Hail Mary, and science accuracy in entertainment
- 14:10 – Transitioning from clinical chemistry to forensic chemistry
- 17:40 – The biggest misconceptions about forensic work
- 20:20 – Forensic chemistry vs. forensic biology
- 22:05 – How fingerprints actually form
- 26:35 – Can fingerprints be removed?
- 26:55 – How forensic labs identify illicit drugs
- 31:10 – Which shows portray science most accurately?
- 33:00 – What’s coming in our next forensic chemistry episode
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What is BCCE and why are people so excited about it? (BCCE 2026)
June 8, 20261 h 10 minBonus
What happens when the world’s largest gathering of chemistry educators decides to try something new? This summer we’re partnering with the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) for a special series …
Show notes
What happens when the world’s largest gathering of chemistry educators decides to try something new? This summer we’re partnering with the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) for a special series of Monday episodes. In this kickoff conversation, Melissa sits down with conference organizers to talk about the vision behind this year’s event, why community conversations are replacing traditional keynotes, and how chemistry educators are thinking about the future of teaching and learning. Whether you’re attending BCCE or just curious about how people learn chemistry, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest conversations happening in chemistry education today.
Important Links
Time Stamps
0:00 – Introducing our BCCE summer series 2:00 – Why Melissa loves BCCE 4:50 – Meet Ariel Vaughn and Ginger Schultz 7:00 – What are Community Conversations? 8:20 – Replacing keynote speakers with interactive discussions 9:00 – How the conversation topics were selected 13:40 – Empowering the community to shape the conference 14:40 – Previewing this year’s Community Conversation topics 16:00 – Neurodiversity, equity, and communities of practice 19:50 – Why community matters in chemistry education 25:20 – Meet BCCE General Chair Sam Pazicni 28:30 – The vision behind this year’s conference 29:00 – “Reflecting Back and Marching Forward” explained 32:30 – The six conference contexts and Community Conversations 37:20 – Who should attend BCCE? 39:00 – Tips for first-time conference attendees 41:00 – Remote attendance and recorded sessions 45:20 – Planning your schedule with the conference app 50:40 – What to wear and what to pack 57:30 – Madison food recommendations and cheese curds 1:03:50 – Special events, parking tips, and final advice 1:08:20 – Final BCCE details and registration information
Podcast Transcript
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