Displaying episodes 1 - 30 of 242 in total
Why do cars get SO hot in the summer?
#162Here's another summer topic, if you live in a somewhat warmer climate area, you've undoubtedly notice that cars can get insanely hot during the summer. We live in ...
Why does carbonated water have a taste?
#026 RebroadcastThis week, Melissa and Jam discuss part of an often requested topic: carbonation. Does it have a taste? Like why does carbonated water taste different ...
What is popcorn?
#161Summer's here, blockbusters are coming out, people will be headed to the movies, and nothing goes better with a movie... than popcorn. At least that's how we feel ...
Bonus: Can coffee get HOTTER in an insulated mug? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 43In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about coffee in thermoses, yeast, intermolecula...
What is whipped cream?
#160Recently we talked about how butter is made from cream, but how is whipped cream made from cream? What is whipping? How does whip cream get foamy and stay foamy? W...
What are trans fats and are they evil?
#004 RebroadcastThis week Melissa and Jam talk about some of the possible unexpected results of hydrogenation, including trans fats.Check out our website at chemforyou...
What is butter?
#159Can you spread it? Can you melt it? Can you bake with it? Can you cook things with it? You butter believe it! But what is butter? Or rather, whatter is butter? How...
Bonus: How does lightning striking sand create glass? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 42In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about freezing point depression, super-heated w...
How do gemstones get their color?
#158Gemstones come in all sorts of colors, but how do they get them? Are different stones super different at the molecular level? How do these different colors happen ...
What is silver tarnish?
#073 RebroadcastWell if you haven't experienced silver tarnish yourself, then you've almost certainly heard people complain about it. Can anything last? These sparkly ...
How do smoke alarms detect smoke? (part 2)
#157Part Two: When smoke alarms aren't beeping at us to replace their batteries, they are sitting, watching, waiting for the perfect moment, waiting for smoke to happe...
Bonus: Why do cucumbers upset people's stomachs? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 41In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about glass cookware, freezing point depression...
How do smoke alarms detect smoke? (part 1)
#156When smoke alarms aren't beeping at us to replace their batteries, they are sitting, watching, waiting for the perfect moment, waiting for smoke to happen so they ...
Baking soda and baking powder: What's the difference?
#009 RebroadcastBaking powder? Baking soda? I mean they're both white powders with the word "baking" in it. How different could they be? Well, one can cause miniature ...
How does baking soda eliminate odors?
#155So baking soda, do you bake it? Can you drink it? What's the deal? And specifically for the purposes of this episode, how does it eliminate odors? You may have hea...
Bonus: Are candles toxic? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 40In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about smells, candles, vinegar, milk, macromole...
Is freezing point *actually* real?
#154When you're young in science class, you probably learned the phrase "freezing point," but is that even a thing? Is there a specific temperature at which things go ...
How do thermoses keep coffee hot?
#033 Rebroadcast That's right, we are sort of talking about coffee this week. Or rather, how to keep it hot. Nowadays we all have some version of a thermos for our cof...
Is "dry cleaning" actually dry?
Whether you're a frequent customer of the dry cleaner or not, you've probably wondered, "why is it called dry cleaning? How could it be dry?" So let's get into it. Wha...
Bonus: How do semi-permanent tattoos work?
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 39In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about fero fluids, semi permanent tattoos, ketc...
What do pine trees and jet fuel have in common?
Well we've just finished that time of the year, the time when some of us bring pine trees into our homes to hang out with us for a few weeks. Sounds fine right? Nothin...
How do snowflakes form and look so cool?
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the wintery chemistry of snowflakes. How do they form? How are they all unique? How do they look so gosh darn cool? Why don’t we see...
What happens to coffee when it cools down?
If you drink coffee, then you know that it starts to taste super different as it goes from hot to cold. Is it just the change in temperature that makes it seem like it...
Bonus: Why does tupperware stain from pasta? (and other questions)
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about amino acids, chemistry puns, salt preservation, and more!
What do peppermints and cigarettes have in common?
Peppermints. They seem innocent enough right? But if that's the case, then what common thread do they share with cigarettes? Don't worry, it's not an inherently bad co...
Why do foods turn brown when we cook them?
This week Melissa and Jam explore some of the chemistry behind cooking. What happens when you sear a steak? What's going on when you toast toast? Why do so many foods ...
What is gluten?
Gluten. Public enemy number one. If you're gluten intolerant that is. But what is gluten? Why is it in bread? What does it do in bread? Let's find out.
Bonus: Is honey mustard a polymer? (and other questions)
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about regulation of scented products, being a parent and getting a PhD, condiments as ...
How can mosquitos smell you? (new research!)
How can mosquitoes sense us? And do they prefer some people over others? This is a question we've pursued across several episodes of the podcast in the past, but now t...
Why do mosquitos bite people?
This week, Melissa and Jam begin a multi-faceted topic: mosquitos. Now of course mosquitos are insects, so studying them would mostly fall into biology. But there's a ...
