Melissa and Jam discuss the top three kitchen products and habits Melissa avoids and loves based on her expertise in chemistry. She advises against using Teflon or non-stick cookware, vintage plastics, and recycling dirty materials. Instead, she encourages using cast iron pans, glass storage containers, and proper recycling practices. Melissa also shares her fondness for composting and its benefits. The episode wraps up with a hint at future editions focused on other household products and cosmetics.

00:00 Introduction and Initial Concerns
01:06 Chemist's Top Three Avoidances
02:49 Avoiding Teflon and Non-Stick
03:34 Avoiding Vintage Plastic
05:14 Avoiding Dirty Recycling
07:33 Chemist's Top Three Favorites
08:31 Bonus: The Joy of Composting
13:11 Wrapping Up and Listener Engagement

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Melissa and Jam discuss the chemistry behind Poopourri Toilet Spray. Melissa explains how the spray works by forming a non-polar oil layer on top of water, preventing smelly polar molecules like skatole and sulfur compounds from escaping into the air. They also touch upon the practical applications and personal experiences of using the product, making everyday bathroom visits more pleasant. Throughout the episode, the hosts delve into the chemistry of solubility and intermolecular forces, providing an engaging and informative lesson on an often-overlooked subject.

00:00 Introduction to Poopourri Toilet Spray
00:30 Personal Experiences with Bathroom Sprays
01:05 Chemistry Behind Poopourri
06:37 The Science of Smelly Molecules
11:10 How Poopourri Works
17:31 Exploring Gas Density and Surface Tension
18:44 Summarizing the Chemistry Lesson
18:49 Understanding Smelly Compounds
20:49 The Role of Polar and Non-Polar Molecules
22:54 Effectiveness of Odor-Blocking Sprays
24:26 Discussing Memorable Smells
31:26 Wrapping Up and Community Shoutouts

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#072 Rebroadcast

You know what they say, everyone's experienced odors, and 99.99% of all odors smell. We have room sprays, candles, air fresheners, etc. But how can we absorb or eliminate bad smells? Can chemistry do it? How? Let's find out!

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References from this episode

1. https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/outreach/celebrating-chemistry/2016-cced-celebrating-chemistry-english.pdf
2. Structure-Scavenging Abilities of Cyclodextrin-Based Polyurethanes by Sandra K. Young, Peter L. Vajda, Eugene Napadensky, Dawn M. Crawford, James M. Sloan, and Samuel F. Trevino
3. ACS - reactions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNIIxzR-d_Q&feature=youtu.be
4. https://helix.northwestern.edu/blog/2015/06/take-whiff-chemistry#:~:text=Febreze%2C%20along%20with%20many%20other,cyclodextrin%20(%CE%B2%2Dcyclodextrin).&text=The%20cyclodextrin%20molecule%20can%20be,oily%E2%80%9D%20and%20immiscible%20with%20water

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Melissa and Jam tackle a range of fascinating chemistry questions from their audience in this episode of 'Chemistry For Your Life'. They discuss why glass is transparent, how some foods make our mouth feel hot or cold, and the science behind decaffeinating coffee. Along the way, they share insights about their popular 'ghost holding an Erlenmeyer Flask' merch and highlight the importance of ad placements and community support for the podcast. Tune in to learn all about the chemistry behind these everyday phenomena!

00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:11 Chemistry Questions and Topics
01:27 Merchandise and Halloween Special
03:05 Community Questions and Answers
03:42 Glass Transparency Explained
04:50 Chemistry in Everyday Life
06:56 Spicy and Cool Sensations
09:38 Moisturizers and Healing Ointments
16:19 Understanding Poisons
17:29 Understanding Defense Systems and Poison Dosage
18:32 The Fascinating Effects of Poisons
20:19 Decaffeination Methods Explained
22:43 Exploring Hot Tub Chemicals and pH Indicators
27:33 Addressing Ad Placement Feedback
32:59 Supporting the Podcast and Community

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References from this episode:

1. https://courses.ems.psu.edu/matse81/node/2154

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Melissa and Jam discuss the science behind moisturizers and how they help with dry skin. The conversation covers the role of occlusives like petroleum jelly, humectants such as glycerin, and emollients in skincare. They also explore the importance of staying hydrated and the effect of environmental factors on skin moisture. Listeners can learn about the distinct mechanisms that moisturizers use to keep skin hydrated and healthy.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Experiences with Dry Skin
01:23 Understanding Moisturizers: What Do They Really Do?
01:56 Welcome to Chemistry for Your Life
02:07 Shoutout to Our Newest Community Member
03:37 Transitioning from Summer to Winter: The Importance of Moisturizers
04:27 The Science Behind Moisturizers: Intermolecular Forces
08:20 How Moisturizers Work: Trapping Moisture and Skin Oils
11:23 The Role of Water and Oils in Skin Hydration
21:22 Understanding Humectants
23:06 The Role of Occlusives in Skincare
24:03 Exploring Emollients
26:34 The Importance of Moisturizing
27:14 Chemistry Behind Moisturizers
28:50 Personal Experiences and Tips
44:41 Final Thoughts and Community Shoutouts

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References from this episode:

1. https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/07/21/moisturisers/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29319217/
3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jocd.12490#accessDenialLayout
4. https://illumin.usc.edu/the-chemistry-behind-moisturizers/
5. https://research-ebsco-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/c/id67n2/viewer/pdf/2oe2i2o6qn?route=details
6. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/reactions/library/moisturizer.html

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Melissa and Jam explore the science behind shooting stars, unraveling the chemistry that turns space rocks into brilliant streaks of light in our night sky. They discuss how meteors heat up and glow as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, the difference between meteors, meteoroids, and meteorites, and share fun facts about colorful meteors and the surprising role of amino acids from space. The episode is filled with personal stories, space trivia, and thoughtful tangents about the ethics of asteroid mining and the wonder of the universe.

00:00 Stargazing and Summer Memories
03:20 Meet the Hosts
05:00 Chemistry for Your Life Merch
07:00 Camping Stories & Inspiration
10:00 Chemistry of Gases and Atmosphere
13:00 What Are Shooting Stars?
18:00 The Science of Meteor Glow
23:00 Fun Facts: Colors, Metals, and Amino Acids
30:00 Asteroid Mining & Space Ethics
36:00 Favorite Space Stories
43:00 Listener Shoutouts & Support
47:00 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

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References from this episode:

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#067 Rebroadcast (Originally Aired October 2020)

Guess what time of year it is. It's spooky time! One thing we see a lot of during this time of year, is things that glow. And you better believe that's chemistry. So how do glowsticks glow? How does bending the glowsticks start that process? What's mixing with what, and seriously how the heck does it glow? Let's find out.

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References from this episode

1. Organic Chemistry, Solomons 11e
2. Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Daniel C. Harris
3. Simple Glowmatography: Chromatographic Separation of GlowStick Dyes Using Chalk - Thomas S. Kuntzleman,* Kasey R. Bunker, and Ashlee A. Bartlett
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/fluorescence
5. https://ocw.mit.edu/high-school/chemistry/demonstrations/videos/anatomy-of-a-glowstick/glowstick.pdf
6. Glowmatography - Thomas S. Kuntzleman,* Anna E. Comfort, and Bruce W. Baldwin

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