Chemistry For Your Life

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
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Dec 8, 2022 • 35min

Why do foods turn brown when we cook them?

#017 Rebroadcast This week Melissa and Jam explore some of the chemistry behind cooking. What happens when you sear a steak? What's going on when you toast toast? Why do so many foods turn golden-brown when cooking? Let's dig in. References from this episode Control of Maillard Reactions in Foods: Strategies and Chemical Mechanisms - Marianne N. Lund, and Colin A. Ray https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/10/10/162636059/100-years-ago-maillard-taught-us-why-our-food-tastes-better-cooked https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/maillard-reaction R.V. Hedegaard, L.H. Skibsted, in Handbook of Food Powders, 2013 Baking, Ageing, Diabetes: A Short History of the Maillard Reaction, Michael Hellwig and Thomas Henle Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Dec 1, 2022 • 31min

What is gluten?

#149 Gluten. Public enemy number one. If you're gluten intolerant that is. But what is gluten? Why is it in bread? What does it do in bread? Let's find out. References from this episode https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17008153/ https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/10/6/617 https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2011-2012/gluten.html#:~:text=Gluten%20is%20composed%20of%20two,hydrogen%20bonds%20with%20each%20other. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17008153/ Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. We love using Transistor to host our podcast -> Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang. Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Nov 24, 2022 • 39min

Bonus: Is honey mustard a polymer? (and other questions)

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 37 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about regulation of scented products, being a parent and getting a PhD, condiments as non-newtonian fluids, adhesive removers, and more! References from this Episode https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/topics/food-science/molasses   Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it. Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Nov 17, 2022 • 53min

How can mosquitos smell you? (new research!)

#148 How can mosquitoes sense us? And do they prefer some people over others? This is a question we've pursued across several episodes of the podcast in the past, but now there's some brand new research that addresses this question! Let's check it out together. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen! References from this episode https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/chemical-communication/Mosquito-magnet-s-chemical-reason/100/web/2022/10?utm_source=Essential&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=CEN http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.034 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03281-8 Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang. Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Nov 10, 2022 • 28min

Why do mosquitos bite people?

#051 Rebroadcast 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. References from this episode Mosquito Life Cycle - United States Centers For Disease Control Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Detect Acidic Volatiles Found in Human Odor Using the IR8a Pathway - Current Biology - Joshua I. Raji, Nadia Melo, John S. Castillo, Sheyla Gonzalez, Valeria Saldana, Marcus C. Stensmyr, Matthew DeGennaro Mosquitoes detect human sweat by sniffing for volatile acids - Chemical & Engineering News - Alla Katsnelson Multimodal Integration of Carbon Dioxide and Other Sensory Cues Drives Mosquito Attraction to Humans - Cell - Conor J. McMeniman, Román A. Corfas, Benjamin J. Matthews, Scott A. Ritchie, Leslie B. Vosshall Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at chemforyourlife.com Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Nov 3, 2022 • 34min

How do trick candles reignite?

#147 Maybe you've experienced them yourself, maybe you've just heard of them, but trick candles are real, they are chemistry, they are kinda dangerous, and they are mean. Let's get into it. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen! References from this episode https://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i32/Trick-Candles.html?PageSpeed=noscript#:~:text=In%20a%20trick%20candle%2C%20magnesium,magnesium%20powder%2C%20producing%20tiny%20sparks. Characterization of Candle Flames ANTHONY HAMINS* AND MATTHEW BUNDY https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/products/candle-safety.html https://youtu.be/B9asozzeAwY https://www.asminternational.org/documents/10192/18497580/amp17205p28.pdf https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/12/magnesium https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1201&context=theses Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang. Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Oct 27, 2022 • 33min

Bonus: How did Bella Hadid's spray-on dress work? (and other questions)

Bonus Episode: Question and Response 36 In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about raw garlic burns, Bella Hadid's dress, carbon monoxide poisoning, and more! References from this Episode https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/16/science/not-for-the-faint-of-mouth-why-garlic-packs-such-a-wallop.html#:~:text=It%20turns%20out%20that%20garlic,chili%20peppers%20and%20wasabi%20mustard. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28390650/ https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1111/scd.12605   Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it. Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Oct 20, 2022 • 44min

Do nasal decongestants even work?

#146 When we are sick and super congested, many of us go to the store to pick up a decongestant. But what if some decongestants DON'T EVEN WORK, like at all? Wouldn't that be frustrating? Well we're sorry to say, it's true. Some "decongestants" are essentially ineffective against congestion? Why? Why are they even sold? Why are they even called decongestants then? Let's talk about this big mess. How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen! References from this episode https://www-science-org.libproxy.library.unt.edu/content/blog-post/uselessness-phenylephrine https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/EphedraGreen https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/ephedra-plant https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/01/06/decongestants/ https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/molecule-of-the-week/archive/p/pseudoephedrine.html https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/science/article/abs/pii/S0065291108601642?via%3Dihub https://pharmacy.ufl.edu/2015/10/14/uf-researchers-ask-fda-to-remove-non-prescription-decongestant-from-the-market/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534801/#:~:text=The%20FDA%2Dapproved%20indication%20for,as%20septic%20shock%20or%20anesthesia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8174445/ https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FDA-2015-P-4131/document https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/shrubs-and-trees/EphedraGreen https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.libproxy.library.unt.edu/pmc/articles/PMC8152226/ https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(06)00633-6/fulltext   Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang. Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Oct 13, 2022 • 30min

What even is sunscreen and how does it screen the sun?

#013 Rebroadcast This week Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of not being burned by the big, ominous, flaming ball of radioactive insanity that lights up our skies each day. Did you know that to some people, radiation burns are no big deal? ¯_(ツ)_/¯ It's actually a very big deal and the sun is constantly trying to kill us all. Save yourselves. References from this episode Organic Chemistry Textbook, Edition 11 - T.W. Graham Solomons Chemistry, Edition 2, Openstax - Paul Flowers, Klaus Theopold, Richard Langley, and William R. Robinson Wikipedia references for SPF American Academy of Dermatology FAQs Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Oct 6, 2022 • 48min

The most toxic substance to humans? (It’s basically botox)

#145 Today we're talking about the most toxic substance known to humans, and yet it also happens to be a substance that many people willingly inject into their bodies. It's Botox! Why is it so toxic to humans, and how did we come to the decision to inject it into out bodies, and why doesn't it hurt us? How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen! References from this episode https://cen.acs.org/articles/83/i25/Botox.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2856357/ https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/botox/6392.article https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/botulism https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/neuroscience/Injections-botulinum-conjugate-relieves-chronic/96/i31   Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife. Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/ And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang. Thanks to our monthly supporters Ciara Linville J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Sarah Moar Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Nelly Silva Venus Rebholz Lyn Stubblefield Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Emerson Woodhall Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Bri McAllister Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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