Bonus Episode: Question and Response 55

In this bonus episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam deviate from their usual format of answering listener questions to engage with the Reddit community instead. They delve into various chemistry-related topics, starting with a Reddit user's struggle to understand moles in chemistry, which Melissa, a chemist, explains in simple terms. They also discuss the social dynamics and difficulties of explaining complex scientific concepts to non-experts, exemplified through a Reddit story about a PhD student oversharing her research at a family gathering. The episode also covers the merits and sacrifices involved in pursuing a PhD, focusing on whether it's worthwhile for those aiming to become professors. Throughout, the hosts emphasize the importance of effective communication in science and the challenges of balancing personal aspirations with academic pursuits.

00:00 Introduction to Reddit Edition: Chemistry Q&A
01:09 Exploring the Concept of Moles in Chemistry
06:02 Navigating Family Dynamics: The PhD Dilemma
15:12 Is Pursuing a PhD Worth It? Insights and Reflections
22:40 Wrapping Up and Future Plans for Reddit Q&A Sessions

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• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
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• Erica Bee
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• Letila
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• 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

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#185

Let's make dirt. Or is it dirt? I don't know, well, can you dig it? We've all heard of compost, maybe you compost, maybe your friend does, maybe they talk about it a lot. But how does it work? Why can we compost some things, but not others? And why can't we just put compostable stuff into the trash can, won't it break down in the landfill? Let's find out!!

References from this Episode

1. https://compost.css.cornell.edu/chemistry.html
2. https://compost.css.cornell.edu/microorg.html
3. https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/composting
4. https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/CompostDefinition
5. https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/consumer-support-food-waste-solutions-focus-agricultural-economists/
6. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home
7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344910000261
8. https://www.acs.org/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/2017-2018/october2017/composting-your-trash-natures-treasure.html

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• Ciara Linville
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• 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

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#082 Rebroadcast

Wow sunglasses sure are cool. What's the coolest thing about them? Is it how cool they make us look and feel? Or is it the chemistry inside them? We'll let you decide, but we think you'll be surprised to find out how significant a role chemistry plays in the making of your shades.

References from this episode

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.chas.8b23208
2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02513
3. https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/issues/2018-2019/December2018/2%20Shades%20TG%20Reading%20Supports.docx
4. https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/product-information/
5. https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i19/Periodic-graphics-chemistry-sunglasses.html
6. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118909911.ch26
7. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ma960808x
8. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1999/JM/a902864a#!divAbstract

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• Ciara Linville
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• Suzanne Phillips
• Nelly Silva
• Venus Rebholz
• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
• Emerson Woodhall
• Kristina Gotfredsen
• Timothy Parker
• Steven Boyles
• Chris Skupien
• Chelsea B
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#184

That's right, the Northern Lights aren't just cool CGI after all. They're real, but what are they? Why do they occur? And how are they chemistry? Let's find out!

References from this Episode

1. https://webbtelescope.org/contents/articles/spectroscopy-101--types-of-spectra-and-spectroscopy
2. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/educators/lessons/xray_spectra/background-atoms.html
3. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/geomagnetic-storms
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23377-5.epdf?sharing_token=Q0rjm5h2j_KavQboPe5r0NRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0Nipe223V5hYGHe-RFuAQXUauChqVoyT7zITbpx_l9I4d9y3fMVLy0n3sVw5SJRoc_II7uBqXU-SzFM3JaTK6_kNmWDs_aEyfCQVLoWqqw15NsYjbFSXvak0yfuKrH76x8%3D
5. https://www.npr.org/2021/06/10/1004859458/what-causes-the-northern-lights-scientists-finally-know-for-sure
6. https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/telecons/archive/PR_E-PO/Aurora_flyer/aurora-flyer_p2.doc.pdf
7. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/reactions/library/what-causes-the-northern-lights-and-where-you-should-see-them.html
8. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/images/u2/Aurora.pdf
   
   

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Ciara Linville
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• 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
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Bonus Episode: Question and Response 54

In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to your comments and questions about dissolving, purple shampoo, coal ash, and petroleum waste.

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• 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

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#183

We're adding another chapter to the PFAS series! There's new information from the FDA that we've got to talk about,. It's about the PFAS that coat food wrappers. What does it mean? Is it good news? Is it enough? Let's talk about it!

References from this Episode

1. https://cen.acs.org/materials/coatings/PFAS-paper-food-packaging/99/i36
2. https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/market-phase-out-grease-proofing-substances-containing-pfas
3. https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/questions-and-answers-pfas-food
4. https://www.fda.gov/food/process-contaminants-food/authorized-uses-pfas-food-contact-applications
   

We want to give a special thanks to Bri McAllister for illustrating molecules for some episodes! Please go check out Bri’s art, follow and support her at entr0pic.artstation.com and @McAllisterBri on twitter!

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Ciara Linville
• J0HNTR0Y
• Jeannette Napoleon
• Cullyn R
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• Letila
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• 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
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#081 Rebroadcast

The sun. It's nice, it's warm, it helps things grow, it helps us see, it helps us exist in the first place. But it's also a massive burning molten ball of radiation and ultraviolet rays. So how does our mysterious yellow friend fade the poor items we leave outside? Let's find out. Don't hurt us, yellow friend.

References from this episode

1. https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/why-does-ultraviolet-light-cause-color-to-fade/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/photodegradation
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4320144/
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1011134404000375?via%3Dihub

Thanks to our monthly supporters

• Ciara Linville
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• 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

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