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September 24, 2020 • 32 minutes What is plastic? Think about it for a second, plastic is everywhere. What plastic things are around you right now? What plastic things do you use everyday? This week, Melissa and Jam dive right into the proverbial (and sort of literal) ball pit. What even is plastic? What is it made of? How is it made? How are there so many different kinds? Let's find out. Play Episode

September 21, 2020 • 26 minutes Why doesn’t superglue harden in the tube? (and other questions) In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about gasoline, super glue, smells, books, and a continuation of last month's movie discussion! Play Episode

September 17, 2020 • 30 minutes How does super glue glue things? Be honest. Have you ever glued yourself with super glue? Everyone should accidentally make that mistake at least once, so you can literally feel the impressive stickiness of super glue. Well today, you can learn about the chemistry within super glue, without putting any fingers or other body parts at risk! Let's do this. Play Episode

September 10, 2020 • 29 minutes Why do we use fluoride on our teeth? Chances are you've heard the word "fluoride" said in reference to your teeth. At the dentists office, on your bottle of mouthwash, maybe you've heard it's in tap water? But what is it, what's so special about it, and how does it help our teeth? Does it make them whiter, stronger, or what? Let's find out. Play Episode

September 3, 2020 • 28 minutes How does caffeine make you not sleepy? Ok so, caffeine. Some of us live on the stuff, and others of us want nothing to do with it. There's a lot of things caffeine can do to our bodies, but of course the number one question, is how does it keep the sleepiness away? Let's get into it. And we may find out a few other things caffeine does along the way. Play Episode

August 31, 2020 • 15 minutes Chemistry at Home: Density Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine honey, corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and alcohol. Play Episode

August 27, 2020 • 38 minutes What makes fruit ripen? Fruit. You eat it too early? It tastes bland and tart. You eat it too late? And it's rotten. You eat it when it's ripe? It's perfect, sweet, and juicy. What makes fruit ripen? How is it that supermarkets and suppliers can control when fruit ripens, or keep it from ripening too early? What's telling what to ripen when? And how? Let's talk about it. Play Episode

August 24, 2020 • 21 minutes Bonus: Do mosquitos care about blood-type? (and other questions) In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about mosquito repellents, mosquitos and blood type, mosquito saliva, organic chemistry, and some of our favorite movies! Play Episode

August 20, 2020 • 33 minutes What's up with alcohol(s)? So we all know what we think of when we hear the word "alcohol," but what if that's not really the whole picture? There's actually many kinds of alcohol, most of which we cannot drink. So what's up with all those alcohols? What makes them different? What makes them similar enough to all be called alcohol? Let's find out. Play Episode

August 13, 2020 • 26 minutes What IS fire? (and what happened in Beirut?) Seriously. What is fire? This week Melissa and Jam hop out of the frying pan. What are those warm orange wisps? We all sort of know what fire is but also, do we? It's hot, it can be good, it can be bad. But why does it look like that? And what really IS it? Let's try to find out Play Episode

August 6, 2020 • 32 minutes What makes honey crystallize? Ever notice that honey crystalizes? Isn't that like super weird? Why does it do that? This week, Melissa and Jam risk getting stuck in this question. Play Episode

July 30, 2020 • 37 minutes What is the future of mosquito repellents? This week, Melissa and Jam close out the mosquitos series with part 4 (If you missed the previous three, go check them out). What does the future look like for humans and mosquitos? Can we finally achieve peace? What are scientists working on, ways to make us invisible to mosquitos, or ways to kill them all? Or can things even get better at all? Let's find out. Scientists, we're counting on you, don't let us down. Play Episode

July 27, 2020 • 12 minutes Chemistry at Home: Milk and Soap Our third bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine milk, food coloring, and dish soap. Let's do chemistry together! Play Episode

July 23, 2020 • 37 minutes What even is DEET? This week, Melissa and Jam continue to part 3 on the topic of mosquitos (If you missed the previous two, go check them out). What is DEET? What part does it play in repelling mosquitos? How do repellants repel mosquitos in the first place? Is it just straight witchcraft? Let's do it. Play Episode

July 20, 2020 • 28 minutes Bonus: Is rain just like sweat for the earth? (and other questions) In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about carbonation, color-changing dyes, spiciness, rain, babies, merch, and more! Play Episode

July 16, 2020 • 34 minutes Do mosquitos bite some people more than others? This week, Melissa and Jam continue the topic of mosquitos (If you missed last week's, listen to it first). It's time to answer the age-old, every-summer question. Why do some people get bitten by mosquitos more than other people? Or maybe, does this really happen in the first place? If so why? What factors do mosquitos look for, compare, and choose by? Let's get to the bottom of this. Play Episode

July 9, 2020 • 27 minutes Why do mosquitos bite people? This week, Melissa and Jam begin a multi-faceted topic: mosquitos. Now of course mosquitos are insects, so studying them would mostly fall into biology. But there's a lot of chemistry here too. The first question, why do mosquitos bite humans at all? How do they find us, and why do they want to bother us? And perhaps more importantly, how is it related to chemistry? Let's find out. Play Episode

July 2, 2020 • 25 minutes How does sweat cool us down? This week, Melissa and Jam once again look under the armpits of society, this time to explore sweat. Is it cool? Well does it keep us cool? How? At what cost? Is there more to sweat than meets the eye? Can you drink it? Grab your sweat bands and let's hit the track Paulie Bleeker. Play Episode

June 29, 2020 • 12 minutes Chemistry at home: Chromatography Here's another bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, we see what happens when we combine markers, coffee filters, and water. Let's do chemistry! Play Episode

June 25, 2020 • 34 minutes What is a calorie? This week, Melissa and Jam question the whole system of food. Or rather, the way we calculate food: calories. What are they? Where'd the come from? How are they calculated? Is it a good system for measuring food? What does it actually measure? Can we calculate calories in food at home? Let's dig in. Play Episode

June 15, 2020 • 21 minutes Bonus: What is Mel's cast iron routine? (and other questions) In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about cast iron routines, dyes, activating almonds, and inspirations behind their respective interests. Play Episode

June 11, 2020 • 34 minutes What is rust and is it the worst? A somewhat natural chemical topic following cast iron: rust. 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. Play Episode

June 4, 2020 • 1 minutes Black lives matter Open full show notes for links to resources. Play Episode

May 28, 2020 • 40 minutes Are cast iron pans as cool as people say? The continuation of the unexpected cookware chemistry saga: cast iron. This week, Melissa and Jam discuss multiple aspects of cast iron chemistry. What is cast iron? Why do some people love it so much? How does it work? Is it better than other cookware? If you haven't listened to our two teflon "prequel" episodes, click here! Play Episode

May 25, 2020 • 16 minutes Chemistry at home: Homemade Lava Lamp What's this, another bonus episode? It's something new we're test driving! A short little extra bonus episode dedicated to teaching a specific chemistry experiment you can do at home. This month, the experiment is how to turn some simple household items into a sort of cool, colorful lava lamp! Let us know what you think of this type of episode. Do you like and want more of these? Is there a way we could make them better? Let us know! Play Episode

May 21, 2020 • 29 minutes Why do diet coke and mentos do that thing? You know what we're talking about. That spectacular fizzy geyser. This week, Melissa and Jam explore what makes diet coke and mentos go crazy together. Is it love? Is it hate? Is it chemistry? Why diet coke specifically? Or more importantly, why mentos? Let's get into it. Play Episode

May 18, 2020 • 30 minutes Bonus: My girlfriend's sweat doesn't stink (and other questions)? In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about sunlight bleaching, weird feeling soap, sweat and smells, popcorn, and more! Play Episode

May 14, 2020 • 32 minutes How do color-changing mugs change color? You know how you have that one mug that changes colors when you put hot coffee in it? Let's talk about that. This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of color changing items. Or rather, a specific item, a Mister Rogers mug Jam's wife has. How do items like this change color? How can heat cause changes like that? And how can it happen over and over again? Also why? Play Episode

May 7, 2020 • 45 minutes How do deodorant and antiperspirant work? What's that smell? Is it us? Is it you? We hope it's neither, thanks to deodorants and antiperspirants. This week, Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry of this everyday important substance. What are the differences between deodorant and antiperspirant? How do they work in the first place? Does one work better? Is one better for us? Be kind to one another, wear deodorant. Play Episode

April 30, 2020 • 31 minutes Is it safe to use teflon pans? Ok! So now that you know how teflon works (see last week's episode if you missed it), now it's time to discuss the equally important question: is it safe to use?? Are there any potential side-effects to using it? Can scratching teflon cause it to have an affect on our food, or even worse, on us? If there are potential dangers to teflon, is there any way to avoid them? Help! This week, Melissa and Jam delve into this topic, and tiptoe through the allegations to give you some things to consider when choosing you next pots and pans. Play Episode

April 27, 2020 • 20 minutes Bonus: Do purple carrots have beta carotene (and other questions)? In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about carrots, pigments, quinones, thermoses, and unscientific theories about why the sky is blue. Play Episode

April 23, 2020 • 38 minutes What makes nonstick pans not sticky? Who you calling sticky? This week, Melissa and Jam open up another two-part series about nonstick pans, aka teflon. What keeps food from sticking to them? How did scientists figure out how to create it? How can something that doesn't stick to anything be coated on the bottom of a pan? Are there any potential downsides to teflon? Let's get nonsticky. Play Episode

April 16, 2020 • 26 minutes How does helium change your voice? Part two on the chemistry of helium! Now to the question you've all been wondering, how does helium change your voice? This week, Melissa and Jam explore this mystery, which begs a lot of other questions. What even is the human voice? What's it made up of? And how does just introducing a gas like helium affect it at all? Let's find out together! Play Episode

April 15, 2020 • 16 minutes Bonus: Podcast For Your Life - Books for your life Don't worry, you didn't click on the wrong podcast. This week Melissa was a guest on another "for your life" podcast: Podcast For Your Life, Jam's original podcast with his friend Jason Cress. So we thought we'd share this crossover as a bonus for this week! Listen to hear Jason, Jam, and Melissa attempt to get to the bottom of what is and is not a book. Read more about Podcast For Your Life below. Play Episode

April 9, 2020 • 39 minutes Is there a helium shortage? Helium is all fun and games right? High voice, super funny, no worries right? Or is there a serious shortage of helium? This week, Melissa and Jam answer this question. But we can't stop there. This is part one of two episodes about helium. Play Episode

April 2, 2020 • 28 minutes Why does orange juice taste bad after you brush your teeth? It's the lesson we've all had to learn the hard way. The pain our mouths feel when we take a treacherous swig of the post-brush poison. This week, Melissa and Jam delve into all of our childhoods to figure out the chemistry of this infamous mixture. Why does it taste so bad? Who's fault is it, the toothpaste or the orange juice? Also while we're at it, why is it called toothpaste? Nevermind, I'm not sure we'll be able to get to the bottom of that part. Play Episode

March 26, 2020 • 33 minutes How does soap kill COVID-19? Ok so we've known for awhile how soap works in a general use sense, like how it cleans dishes (see episode 1). But these weird times call for a deeper look at soap. How can it kill a virus? Or more importantly, how can it kill a little, wretched, mischievous virus like COVID-19? Like really, how? How is it that we can use soap to both get spaghetti sauce off a plate, and kill a dangerous virus? We're always told to wash our hands well, and that it's important, but if you think about it for a second, it's crazy that we put something on our hands, and rub them together under water, and then we're good to go. Right? Let's get into it. Play Episode

March 19, 2020 • 27 minutes Why do apples turn brown when you cut them? Do you like apples? Ever wonder why they turn brown when you cut them? This week, Melissa and Jam explore this very question. What's going on in these apples? Where does the brown come from? Is it a good or bad thing? Does it taste different? Is the brown actually apple tears from the pain of being cut? Play Episode

March 16, 2020 • 24 minutes Bonus: Methane doesn't have a smell (and other questions)? In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about methane, bad smells, bleach, computers seeing colors, crystal formation, and more!. Play Episode

March 12, 2020 • 36 minutes Why is the sky blue but sunsets aren’t? This week, Melissa and Jam explore the oldest question in the book. But we're not going to answer it. Just kidding. Why the HECK is the sky blue? And also why are there times that it isn't? Sunrise? Sunset? Nightime? Sky, what are your mysteries? Tell us your secrets. Hide not your face from me. Play Episode

March 5, 2020 • 31 minutes How do thermoses keep coffee hot? That's right, we are sort of talking about coffee this week. Or rather, how to keep it hot. Nowadays we all have some version of a thermos for our coffee, tea, water, or what-have-you. Today Melissa and Jam try to get to the bottom of how those work. How do they keep things hot and cold? What's between the two layers (or whatever) and how is it so good at insulating? Is it a vacuum? Can someone please tell me what the heck is going on? Play Episode

February 27, 2020 • 34 minutes How do hand warmers get hot? This week, Melissa and Jam investigate reusable hand warmers. How do they get hot? Where does the heat even come from? How do reusable ones even work? Is it real? How can heat just come out of nowhere like that? Play Episode

February 20, 2020 • 34 minutes How does bleach remove color? How does bleach bleach stuff? Oh and also, what even is color? This week Melissa and Jam investigate these questions. What's the molecular makeup of color and then how does bleach alter that? How does bleach have enough power to ruin that hoodie you just bought? How could you have been foolish enough to handle bleach while wearing your new hoodie? Play Episode

February 17, 2020 • 23 minutes Bonus: Does cold exist (and other questions)? In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about cold/cool, water temperature's effect on boats, vapor pressure, smells, hair, and how this podcast even got started. Play Episode

February 13, 2020 • 31 minutes Why do bad smells smell bad? Melissa and Jam continue to sniff out the chemistry of smell, focusing this week on bad smells. Why are we so good at smelling bad smells? Why do they haunt us at night? Why are some bad smells so strong and long lasting, while many great smells are subtle and temporary. What’s in a smell? "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I think that quote applies here right? Play Episode

February 6, 2020 • 35 minutes How do we smell things? What's that smell? This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of smell. Now a lot of smell science has to do with our physiology and neurology. We'll talk some about that, but the chemistry has to do with the actual smells in the air. What are they? How do they get into the air? How can we detect them with our noses and brains? Why does rain have a smell, and why does it smell good? Let's find out. Play Episode

January 30, 2020 • 34 minutes What’s really happening when our hair gets damaged? This week, Melissa and Jam travel even further down the rabbit hole of hair chemistry. How does our hair get damaged? How do we curl, straighten, and perm our hair? What's going on there at the molecular level? Let's find out! Play Episode

January 23, 2020 • 28 minutes What gives curly hair its curl? This week, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry of something that may not seem like chemistry at first: hair. Curly hair to be specific. What makes hair curl? Also what is hair in the first place? Why can hair be so radically different? Alright curly girls, curly guys, and curly folks, let's find out. Play Episode

January 20, 2020 • 28 minutes Bonus: Growing crystals, bobby pins, and how should we address the Hulk? In his month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about how to grow crystals, details about snowflake formation, a little tiny bit of discussion about blackholes, and more! Play Episode

January 16, 2020 • 31 minutes Does carbonation have a taste? This week, Melissa and Jam discuss part of an often requested topic: carbonation. Does it have a taste? Like why does carbonated water taste different than flat water? And what is carbonation in the first place? Does it give you unusually long life? How is it so refreshing? We answer some of those questions. Play Episode

January 9, 2020 • 37 minutes The sea is rising? Should I be scared? (with Renee Collini) This week, Melissa, Jam, and very special guest Renee Collini (Melissa's sister) delve into the important topic of sea-level rise. What causes it to rise? What affect will it have on the world? How should we feel about it? Is there anything we can do as regular people? Play Episode