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

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#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:

1. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/biological-sciences-articles/courageous-physician-scientist-saved-the-us-from-a-birth-defects-catastrophe


2. https://www.gao.gov/assets/hrd-82-3.pdf


3. https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-revoke-authorization-use-red-no-3-food-and-ingested-drugs


4. 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

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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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:

1. https://pubs-acs-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/full/10.1021/acs.joc.1c00805


2. 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

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#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:

1. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00365-z


2. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:1862p-14%20edition:prelim)


3. 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

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#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

1. Turning Back Time: Watching Rust Transform into Iron - National Institute of Standards and Technology


2. The Color of Soil - United States Department of Agriculture


3. Why does metal rust? - American Chemical Society


4. 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

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife