Chemistry For Your Life

• What's the chemistry of sticky stuff?

  #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  

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• Can I trust the FDA? (from thalidomide to cough medicine)

  #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

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• Ask a Chemist: Does metal mess up sourdough? (and other questions)

  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

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• What is going on with science funding??

  #205 Jam and Melissa discuss the complexities and consequences of recent executive orders surrounding science funding. Melissa provides insight into how these changes impact university research, faculty positions, and broader society. The duo also highlights the historical context and importance of DEI in academia, emphasizing the broader implications of funding uncertainties on current and future science initiatives. 00:00 Introduction and Special Occasions 00:20 Current Issues in Science Funding 01:10 Host Background and Experience 02:19 Impact of Executive Orders on Science 04:21 Broader Impacts and DEI in Grants 14:03 Indirect Costs and University Funding 16:44 Trickle-Down Effects on Academia 27:03 Importance of DEI Initiatives 40:16 Conclusion and Further Reading   References from this episode: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00365-z https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:1862p-14%20edition:prelim) https://cen.acs.org/education/Racial-ethnic-diversity-US-chemistry/98/i43 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

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• What is rust and is it kinda cool?

  #047 Rebroadcast This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of rust. What even is it? Where does it come from? Is it bad? Is it reversible? Let's get into it.   References from this episode Turning Back Time: Watching Rust Transform into Iron - National Institute of Standards and Technology The Color of Soil - United States Department of Agriculture Why does metal rust? - American Chemical Society Ultra-Pure Water - National Geographic   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  

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