Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchHow do pencils write on paper?
Episode 238
Why does a pencil work so perfectly? Why does graphite leave marks on paper instead of just crumbling apart? And what do pancakes, honeycombs, geckos…
7 hours ago
Ask a Chemist: What things should you never mix? (and other questions)
What happens when you mix bleach and ammonia? Why does perfume smell amazing on one person and weird on another? And why is getting a job so hard rig…
6 days, 20 hours ago
How was kevlar accidentally invented?
Episode 237
How do you turn a weird cloudy liquid into something stronger than steel? This week we’re telling the story of Kevlar: the chemistry breakthrough tha…
2 weeks ago
Is there a helium shortage?
Episode 38
#038 Rebroadcast
Helium is all fun and games right? High voice, super funny, no worries right? Or is there a serious shortage of helium? This week, M…
3 weeks ago
How does reverse osmosis actually work?
Episode 236
#236
When a retired chemist wrote in… we had to explore to his great questions. How does reverse osmosis actually work? Should you put aluminum foil …
4 weeks ago
Ask a Chemist: Is That Pool Smell Actually Chlorine? (and other questions)
Question and Response #76
You asked… so we answered. What do carbon chains have to do with Greek words? How do MRIs make “3D pixels”? Is that pool sm…
1 month ago
How do diapers change color when wet?
Episode 235
#235
You’ve seen it a hundred times… but how does it actually work? Why do diapers change color when they’re wet? What kind of chemistry is happening…
1 month, 1 week ago
How do deodorant and antiperspirant work?
Episode 42
#042 Rebroadcast
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 d…
1 month, 2 weeks ago
More bird chemistry?!
Episode 234
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 b…
1 month, 3 weeks ago
What even is DEET?
Episode 53
#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 repe…
2 months ago