#185Let's make dirt. Or is it dirt? I don't know, well, can you dig it? We've all heard of compost, maybe you compost, maybe your friend does, maybe they talk about it a lot. But how does it work? Why can we compost some things, but not others?

How do sunglasses protect our eyes?

9 days ago 38m 50s

#082 RebroadcastWow sunglasses sure are cool. What's the coolest thing about them? Is it how cool they make us look and feel? Or is it the chemistry inside them? We'll let you decide, but we think you'll be surprised to find out how significant

What are the Northern Lights?

16 days ago 44m 1s

#184That's right, the Northern Lights aren't just cool CGI after all. They're real, but what are they? Why do they occur? And how are they chemistry? Let's find out!References from this Episodehttps://webbtelescope.org/contents/articles/spectro

Ask a Chemist: Can you dissolve a liquid into a solid? (and other questions)

23 days ago 30m 34s

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 54In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about dissolving, purple shampoo, coal ash, and petroleum waste.Thanks to our monthly supportersCiara LinvilleJ0

Did the FDA eliminate Forever Chemicals? (PFAS Part 5!)

30 days ago 37m 4s

#183We're adding another chapter to the PFAS series! There's new information from the FDA that we've got to talk about,. It's about the PFAS that coat food wrappers. What does it mean? Is it good news? Is it enough? Let's talk about it!Referenc

Why do things fade in the sun?

Mar 21st, 2024 29m 6s

#081 RebroadcastThe sun. It's nice, it's warm, it helps things grow, it helps us see, it helps us exist in the first place. But it's also a massive burning molten ball of radiation and ultraviolet rays. So how does our mysterious yellow friend

What's the REAL reason we can't look at a solar eclipse?

Mar 14th, 2024 38m 55s

#182There's an eclipse coming to the US in April! Which means we'll all be getting that reminder to NOT LOOK AT THE ECLIPSE WITHOUT PROPER EYE PROTECTION. But why is that? At the molecular level, what happens to our eyes if we look at the eclip

Bonus

Ask a Chemist: How does purple shampoo work, or does it? (and other questions)

Mar 7th, 2024 27m 33s

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 53In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about purple shampoo, salt on icy roads, msg, and more!Thanks to our monthly supportersCiara LinvilleJ0HNTR0Y

What is Vitamin D? And what does it have to do with the sun?!

Feb 29th, 2024 44m 50s

#181Have you heard about Vitamin D? Has someone ever told you that you need it and it's really important? Have you ever wondered why? And have you ever wondered what the heck THE SUN has to do with Vitamin D? Well rise and shine it's time to fi

Why do plants die in freezing weather?

Feb 22nd, 2024 27m 26s

#085 Rebroadcast Well here in Texas, we just suffered through an intense freeze. And many a plant became a casualty of the cold, but why? What's going on at the molecular level that causes freezing temperatures to be bad for many plants? And is

What's up with Fahrenheit, Celsius, and... Kelvin?

Feb 15th, 2024 35m 47s

#180Depending on where you live, you may use Fahrenheit or Celsius to measure temperature, but how did these measurements come about, why are they different, and seriously, who is Kelvin?References from this Episodehttps://highschoolenergy.acs.

Ask a Chemist: Why do metals look metallic? (and other questions!)

Feb 8th, 2024 48m 9s

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 52In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about metals, kombucha, learning styles, condiments, and more!Reference from this episode: https://radiolab.org/podcast

How do infrared thermometers work?

Feb 1st, 2024 35m 18s

#179Over the past few years infrared thermometers have started being EVERYWHERE. So as we've cracked open the conversation on thermometers we've got to find out, how do infrared thermometers work? How are they different from other kinds?Referen

How do we see our breath in the air?

Jan 25th, 2024 27m 38s

#074This time of year, it's a common occurrence, something so common that we might not even wonder about it anymore. But really, why do we see our breath in the air when it's cold? We see steam from cooking things and boiling water, but our bre

Thermometers: what is the chemistry behind them?

Jan 18th, 2024 36m 58s

#178Thermometers tell us what temperature something is. But how do the thermometers know what the temperature is? Who tells the thermometers? Or rather, how do thermometers accurately gauge what the temperature is, consistently, in high heat an

Bonus: How do "forever chemicals" sneak into our clothes? (and other questions)

Jan 11th, 2024 23m 3s

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 51In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about PFAS/forever chemicals, the periodic table, chemistry and engineering, and more!Thanks to our monthly supporters

What is yogurt?

Jan 4th, 2024 45m 22s

#177Yogurt, sometimes known as thick milk. But what is it really? What happens at the molecular level, how does it become yogurt? And while we're at it, what is sour cream? Let's talk about these dairy substances.References from this Episodehtt

What is cheese? And what does it have in common with soap?

Dec 28th, 2023 26m 56s

#104 RebroadcastSeriously what the heck is cheese? It's a question we've all wondered, but most of us only ever know that it's from milk—but what else? How do we turn milk into cheese? What's going on at the chemical level? And why do cheeses t

What even is cinnamon?

Dec 21st, 2023 42m 54s

#176We're in the portion of the year where cinnamon finds its way into many things we eat and drink: our pies, our tea, our coffee, our wassail, our candles, etc. But what is cinnamon really? What's going on with it at the molecular level? What

Bonus: What's the chemistry of kombucha? (and other questions)

Dec 14th, 2023 39m 3s

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 50In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about mosquitos, kombucha, coated cookware, and more!Thanks to our monthly supportersCiara LinvilleJ0HNTR0YJe

What even is MSG? Is it bad for you?

Dec 7th, 2023 47m 9s

#175MSG! The ingredient many of us reference but few of us know anything about. What is it? Why does it make things taste so good? What's in it? Is it bad for us? If not, why does everyone think it is?References from this Episodehttps://youtu.b

Why do onions make you cry?

Nov 30th, 2023 34m 25s

#016 RebroadcastThis week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of onion tears, the emotional reaction we all have, against our will, when cutting onions. Grab some tissues, this one's gonna burn.References from this episodehttps://pubs.acs.org

Why does(n't) turkey make you sleepy?

Nov 23rd, 2023 39m 24s

#174For many folks in the US, today is a day where we eat Turkey! And many times the factoid/rumor makes the rounds that eating turkey makes you sleepy... but does it? Let's get into it, and fair warning, it's not as simple as you think.Referen

Bonus

Bonus: Acronyms and Mom Memories (chemmunity style)

Nov 16th, 2023 26m 47s

Bonus Episode: Chemmunity StyleFor this month's bonus episode we don't have questions, so we're recording an episode in the style of our secret supporter-only podcast. Check it out and enjoy an extra episode.Thanks to our monthly supporters

Why do we stir things to dissolve them?

Nov 9th, 2023 43m 11s

#173What is freeze-drying? How can something be both frozen and dried? How does it differ from just freezing, or just drying? And is it just for astronauts? Let's get into it!References from this Episodehttps://www.acs.org/middleschoolchemistry