Chemistry For Your Life

#011 Rebroadcast Why is honey sticky but salt isn’t? What’s the difference between things that stick and things that just feel sticky? In this episode, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry behind adhesion, cohesion, and the forces that make substances cling to surfaces (and to our fingers). They explore intermolecular forces, viscosity, and why some things are nearly impossible to separate once they’re bonded. Plus, Jam shares a hilarious mix-up of words, and Melissa breaks down why this topic turned out to be trickier than expected! Topics Covered: • The difference between adhesion and cohesion • Intermolecular forces: the unseen power behind stickiness • Why some things feel sticky while others are just stuck • How temperature and viscosity affect our experience of stickiness • Why hydrogen bonding plays a key role in making substances cling • Listener-submitted answers on the “scientific word for sticky” Thanks to our monthly supporters Julie S Heather R Autoclave Chelsea M Dorien V Scott B Jessie R Ciara L J0HNTR0Y Jeannette N Cullyn R Erica B Elizabeth P Sarah M Rachel R Letila Katrina B Suzanne P Venus R Lyn S Jacob T Brian K Emerson W Kristina G Timothy P Steven B Chris and Claire S Chelsea B Avishai B Hunter R ★ 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.

#206 Melissa and Jam address a listener's question about the FDA's reliability in approving products. They discuss the intersection of chemistry, government, and society, focusing on FDA's role in regulating food and drugs. The episode includes a deep dive into the historical thalidomide tragedy, the improvements in the FDA's approval process since then, and the nuances of trusting FDA-approved products. Through personal insights, they emphasize the complexities and challenges faced by the FDA in ensuring public safety. 00:00 Introduction: What is the FDA Up To? 00:18 Listener's Question: Trusting FDA Approvals 01:11 Deep Dive: FDA's Role and Responsibilities 03:35 Case Study: Cold Medicine and Phenylephrine 04:18 Thalidomide: A Historical Lesson 10:11 The Role of Frances Kelsey 13:44 FDA's Evolution and Current Challenges 23:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts References from this episode: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/biological-sciences-articles/courageous-physician-scientist-saved-the-us-from-a-birth-defects-catastrophe https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-82-3.pdf https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revoke-authorization-use-red-no-3-food-and-ingested-drugs https://cen.acs.org/food/food-ingredients/Editorial-Fewer-risky-food-colors/102/i26 Thanks to our monthly supporters Julie S Heather R Autoclave Chelsea M Dorien V Scott B Jessie R Ciara L J0HNTR0Y Jeannette N Cullyn R Erica B Elizabeth P Sarah M Rachel R Letila Katrina B Suzanne P Venus R Lyn S Jacob T Brian K Emerson W Kristina G Timothy P Steven B Chris and Claire S Chelsea B Avishai B Hunter R ★ 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.

Ask a Chemist #64 Melissa and Jam delve into intriguing chemistry questions posed by their listeners. They explore whether all salts are salty, the chemistry of gunshot residue and fingerprinting, and the reactions between chemicals and sound waves. Special guest Maison, Melissa's husband, joins to discuss sourdough starter cultures and answer sourdough-related queries. The episode concludes with insightful comments from their Chemmunity members and reassurances about their well-being amid late-night recordings. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:45 First Listener Question: Gunshot Residue and Fingerprinting 02:46 Is All Salt Salty? 15:28 Chemistry and Sound Waves 18:28 Sourdough Questions Begin 21:32 Sourdough Myths: Stainless Steel Debate 23:36 Acidity and Metal Reactions 27:47 Sourdough and Gluten-Free Misconceptions 29:40 Starting a Sourdough Business 31:22 Sourdough Starter Names and Maintenance 33:39 Maison's Sourdough Journey 42:06 Late Night Recording Concerns 44:41 Community Shoutouts and Closing Remarks   References from this episode: https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/full/10.1021/acs.joc.1c00805 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7919833/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Julie S Heather R Autoclave Chelsea M Dorien V Scott B Jessie R Ciara L J0HNTR0Y Jeannette N Cullyn R Erica B Elizabeth P Sarah M Rachel R Letila Katrina B Suzanne P Venus R Lyn S Jacob T Brian K Emerson W Kristina G Timothy P Steven B Chris and Claire S Chelsea B Avishai B Hunter R ★ 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.

They unpack recent executive orders reshaping science funding and why researchers are scrambling. Listeners hear how paused grants ripple through universities, threatening jobs, hiring, and student opportunities. The conversation spotlights DEI language in funding, data on underrepresentation in chemistry faculty, and the historical causes behind those disparities.

They break down what rust actually is and why iron turns into flaky oxide. They explain redox reactions and how water and salts let electrons move. They connect rusting to batteries, statues, and soil colors. They cover how acids and pure water affect corrosion and whether rust can be reversed.

They unpack how antacids neutralize stomach acid and why that chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide. The chemistry of calcium carbonate and carbonic acid is explained in simple terms. Differences between Tums, baking soda, and effervescent tablets are compared. Practical cautions and fizz experiments round out the conversation.

A lively dive into the microbiology and chemistry behind sourdough fermentation. Short segments unpack how wild yeasts and lactic acid bacteria create bubbles, flavor, and sourness. They explore starter development, why each starter is unique, water’s role, and whether sourdough is healthier. Practical baking tips and tasting preferences round out the conversation.

They explore why eating carrots can trigger hiccups and what digestive causes might be involved. They discuss benzene as a dangerous contaminant in personal-care products. They explain how catalysts speed reactions and give real examples. They question claims about hydrogen-rich water bottles and examine poinsettia pigments as pH and spoilage indicators.

A funny overdose story kicks off a dive into how antihistamines work. The chemistry behind why some medicines make you sleepy gets explained through molecular shape and polarity. Learn how changes to drug structure stop them from crossing into the brain. The conversation also compares older and newer allergy drugs and shares personal preferences for different treatments.

A lively Q and A covering ethics in chemistry and how the field reckons with harmful legacies. They explore why elements make different flame colors and the science behind glow-in-the-dark nostalgia. Personal tales about the toughest classes and a tease about sourdough chemistry add humor and heart.