Podcast Episodes

How does Poo-Pourri prevent unpleasant smells?

Episode 223

Melissa and Jam discuss the chemistry behind Poopourri Toilet Spray. Melissa explains how the spray works by forming a non-polar oil layer on top of water, preventing smelly polar molecules like skat…

Published on 10 hours ago

How do odor absorbers work?

Episode 72

#072 Rebroadcast

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 can we absorb or eliminate bad smells?…

Published on 6 days, 22 hours ago

Are your lips being tricked by chapstick?

Episode 221

Melissa and Jam delve into the science behind lip balm, investigating whether products like Chapstick and Burt's Bees are beneficial or if they could be causing more harm. They explore the ingredient…

Published on 2 weeks ago

Ask a Chemist: Why is glass clear? (and other questions)

Melissa and Jam tackle a range of fascinating chemistry questions from their audience in this episode of 'Chemistry For Your Life'. They discuss why glass is transparent, how some foods make our mout…

Published on 3 weeks ago

Does lotion really hydrate dry skin?

Episode 220

Melissa and Jam discuss the science behind moisturizers and how they help with dry skin. The conversation covers the role of occlusives like petroleum jelly, humectants such as glycerin, and emollien…

Published on 4 weeks ago

What are shooting stars?

Episode 219

Melissa and Jam explore the science behind shooting stars, unraveling the chemistry that turns space rocks into brilliant streaks of light in our night sky. They discuss how meteors heat up and glow …

Published on 1 month ago

How do glowsticks glow?

Episode 67

#067 Rebroadcast (Originally Aired October 2020)

Guess what time of year it is. It's spooky time! One thing we see a lot of during this time of year, is things that glow. And you better believe that'…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

What makes fireflies glow?

Episode 218

Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex series of chemical reactions involving specific mole…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Ask a Chemist: What would be worse, drinking bleach or gasoline? (and other questions)

Melissa and Jam dive into a variety of listener-submitted questions. They discuss the science behind fluffy shave ice versus mainland shaved ice, the effectiveness and safety of ozone treatments for …

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Why is sweat salty?

Episode 217

Melissa and Jam explore the science behind why sweat is salty. They discuss personal experiences with sweating, the types of sweat glands, and the chemical processes involved in sweat production. The…

Published on 2 months ago