Episodios

  • How do pimple patches save our faces?

    How do pimple patches save our faces?
    Nov 6 2025

    Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind popular hydrocolloid bandages and pimple patches. They discuss the composition and functionality of these bandages, exploring how polymers and polar groups work to keep wounds moist and free from external contaminants. The episode also highlights the trend of using pimple patches, especially among teens, and addresses the additional features some patches include, such as microneedles with active ingredients. Melissa shares personal anecdotes about dealing with skin issues and Jam reflects on his own experiences with sickness. The episode concludes with a shout-out to their community members and the importance of public support in keeping the show running.

    00:00 The Painful Reality of Pimples
    00:59 Pimple Patches: The New Trend
    04:00 Shingles: A Personal Experience
    07:52 The Science Behind Hydrocolloid Bandages
    22:33 Analogies and Polymers
    24:32 Hydrocolloid Bandages and Wound Care
    26:43 Pimple Patches and Active Ingredients
    30:01 Personal Stories and Sickness
    35:55 Birthdays and Personal Preferences
    40:44 Community and Support

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    References from the Episode:

      1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11856799/#B9-jcm-14-01345
      2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/hydrocolloid
      3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5788207/

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    • Lyn Stubblefield
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    • Chelsea B
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    • Hunter Reardon
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    45 m
  • How does Benzoyl Peroxide fight acne?

    How does Benzoyl Peroxide fight acne?
    Oct 30 2025

    #127 Rebroadcast

    If you've ever had acne, you've probably tried some creams or washes with "benzoyl peroxide" somewhere on the label. How is it that this specific ingredient is helpful for fighting acne? What is happening at the molecular level when we apply some benzoyl peroxide to our acne? Let's find out!

    References from this episode

    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791156/
    2. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(81)70004-5/pdf
    3. https://youtu.be/_Mlv2Q_HiM0
    4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537220/
    5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21076800/
    6. https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/topics/neuroscience/benzoyl-peroxide
    7. https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/issues/2016-2017/December%202016/chemmatters-dec2016-acne.pdf
    8. https://youtu.be/KrMbwDil1hc
    9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC171487/pdf/aac00071-0086.pdf
    10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697687/#jde13996-bib-0006
    11. https://youtu.be/IyxTc0iZ6V8?t=1066s
    12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5697687/#jde13996-bib-0006

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    Thanks to our monthly supporters

    • Emily Morrison
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    • Emily Hardy
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    • Vince W
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    • Heather Ragusa
    • Autoclave
    • Chelsea Morelos
    • Dorien VD
    • Scott Beyer
    • Jessie Reder
    • Ciara Linville
    • J0HNTR0Y
    • Jeannette Napoleon
    • Cullyn R
    • Erica Bee
    • Elizabeth P
    • Rachel Reina
    • Letila
    • Katrina Barnum-Huckins
    • Suzanne Phillips
    • Venus Rebholz
    • Lyn Stubblefield
    • Jacob Taber
    • Brian Kimball
    • Kristina Gotfredsen
    • Timothy Parker
    • Steven Boyles
    • Chris Skupien
    • Chelsea B
    • Avishai Barnoy
    • Hunter Reardon
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    29 m
  • What sparks the mystery of static electricity?

    What sparks the mystery of static electricity?
    Oct 23 2025
    Melissa and Jam delve into the intricate phenomenon of static electricity. They discuss their own experiences with static shocks and static cling, particularly in the winter months. They explain the concept of contact electrification and the tribal electric effect, providing basic explanations along with why these do not fully account for everything we observe. They highlight recent scientific research, revealing that much about static electricity remains a mystery, including why it occurs more in some materials than others and how friction affects it. The podcast also explores practical examples and ways static electricity impacts everyday life, such as in winter clothing, camp blankets, coffee grinding, and even industrial settings. 00:00 Introduction and Winter Talk 00:24 Static Shock Experiences 01:39 Welcome to Chemistry for Your Life 03:49 Understanding Static Electricity 06:06 Static Electricity in Everyday Life 12:14 Recent Research on Static Electricity 18:44 Understanding Static Electricity 19:26 Challenges in Studying Static 20:19 Experiments and Observations 22:58 Static in Everyday Life 24:28 Water and Static Electricity 25:58 Personal Experiences with Static 28:52 Conclusion and Community Engagement 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 References from the Episode: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2019/09/solving-the-longstanding-mystery-of-how-friction-leads-to-static-electricity https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00298-7 https://www.sciencealert.com/we-finally-know-what-creates-static-electricity-after-thousands-of-years https://link.aps.org/accepted/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.116103 https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/environment-general-science/how-can-i-stop-getting-static-shocks https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/january/research-update-generating-electricity-from-tacky-tape.html https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.2c05629 https://case.edu/news/why-does-rubbing-balloon-your-hair-make-it-stick https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08530-6 https://youtu.be/-Buz6Sp2YTg https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/only_you_can_prevent_combine_fireshttps://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03656 Thanks to our monthly supporters Emily MorrisonKyle McCrayEmily HardyAshVince WJulie S.Heather RagusaAutoclaveChelsea MorelosDorien VDScott BeyerJessie RederCiara LinvilleJ0HNTR0YJeannette NapoleonCullyn RErica BeeElizabeth PRachel ReinaLetilaKatrina Barnum-HuckinsSuzanne PhillipsVenus RebholzLyn StubblefieldJacob TaberBrian KimballKristina GotfredsenTimothy ParkerSteven BoylesChris SkupienChelsea BAvishai BarnoyHunter Reardon 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.
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    35 m
  • 3 Kitchen Tips From a Chemist: What to Use and Avoid

    3 Kitchen Tips From a Chemist: What to Use and Avoid
    Oct 16 2025

    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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    • Lyn Stubblefield
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    • Chelsea B
    • Avishai Barnoy
    • Hunter Reardon
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    16 m
  • How does Poo-Pourri prevent unpleasant smells?

    How does Poo-Pourri prevent unpleasant smells?
    Oct 9 2025

    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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    36 m
  • How do odor absorbers work?

    How do odor absorbers work?
    Oct 2 2025

    #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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    34 m
  • Are your lips being tricked by chapstick?

    Are your lips being tricked by chapstick?
    Sep 25 2025
    Melissa and Jam delve into the science behind lip balm, investigating whether products like Chapstick and Burt's Bees are beneficial or if they could be causing more harm. They explore the ingredients commonly found in these products, discuss what to avoid for chapped lips, and share dermatologist-recommended alternatives for effective lip care. 00:00 Introduction to the Lip Balm Scam 00:44 Meet the Hosts and Podcast Introduction 01:37 Community Shoutout and Announcements 04:07 The Chapstick Scam Inquiry 08:17 Understanding Chapped Lips 09:50 Ingredients in Lip Balms 16:42 Burt's Bees and Other Lip Balm Brands 23:31 The Irritation Dilemma 23:49 Ingredients to Look For 24:23 Chapstick vs. Burt's Bees 26:31 Petroleum Jelly Insights 29:36 Dermatologist Recommendations 32:01 Personal Lip Care Tips 38:14 Cosmetic Preferences and Hair Care 43:57 Supporting the Show ★ 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 References from this episode: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/allergens-cosmetics#commonhttps://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/heal-dry-chapped-lipshttps://www.burtsbees.com/product/beeswax-lip-balm/ (in the stick form) https://www.burtsbees.com/product/moisturizing-retro-lip-balm-tin/#792850651531-Beeswax (in the tin form) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3120007/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8060673/ https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/sds/sial/p5566?srsltid=AfmBOorfW5-Pot-l-yKCmfHp7Nco5xawnc8sXApICL2UfdR-Q6h9wQYb https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/sds/aldrich/w266507?userType=undefined https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?partNumber=AC119111000&countryCode=US&language=enhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34561893/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3120007/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15569527.2023.2275022https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521353_5?form=fpfhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27090066/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ics.12583https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.13131https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15569527.2023.2275022https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6064031/https://www.chapstick.com/products/chapstick-classic-lip-moisturizer Thanks to our monthly supporters Emily MorrisonKyle McCrayEmily HardyAshVince WJulie S.Heather RagusaAutoclaveChelsea MorelosDorien VDScott BeyerJessie RederCiara LinvilleJ0HNTR0YJeannette NapoleonCullyn RErica BeeElizabeth PRachel ReinaLetilaKatrina Barnum-HuckinsSuzanne PhillipsVenus RebholzLyn StubblefieldJacob TaberBrian KimballKristina GotfredsenTimothy ParkerSteven BoylesChris SkupienChelsea BAvishai BarnoyHunter Reardon ★ 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.
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    49 m
  • Ask a Chemist: Why is glass clear? (and other questions)

    Ask a Chemist: Why is glass clear? (and other questions)
    Sep 18 2025

    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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    38 m