Best Chemistry Podcasts (2025)

1
Help Us to Help You: Recommendations for Continued Enforcement Discretion for Common Infectious Disease Test Modifications under the FDA Final Rule 18:22

16h ago18:22

18:22

By Kyle Rodino and Erin Graf

1
Ask a Chemist: Are all food dyes bad? (and other questions) 33:18

2d ago33:18

33:18

Ask a Chemist #66 Melissa and Jam dive into a range of listener-submitted questions exploring everyday chemistry. Topics include the chemistry behind toasting herbs, the effect of gravity on elemental bonds, the purpose and ethics of creating elements with short half-lives, and the effectiveness of cough medicine. They also discuss potential causes…

1
How do plants "drink" water? 44:46

8d ago44:46

44:46

#209 Melissa and Jam dive into the fascinating chemistry behind how plants transport water from their roots to their leaves, effectively defying gravity. They explore processes such as capillary action and the cohesion tension mechanism, citing a primary source from Nature journal. Melissa and Jam also touch on key chemistry concepts like water pol…

1
Audio Summary May 2025 5:43

10d ago5:43

5:43

1
New Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vitamin D Supplementation and Testing 10:57

11d ago10:57

10:57

By Vishnu A Samara

1
Normal Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Elevated Free Thyroxine in a Patient Presenting with Self-Reported Heart Palpitations 11:13

16d ago11:13

11:13

By William Butler

1
What is the future of antihistamines? 34:35

17d ago34:35

34:35

#098 Rebroadcast Original Air Date: June 3, 2021 Could histamine and antihistamines do more than just affect our allergies? Actually yes. Today we discuss new and recent research in the world of histamine, and believe us, there's some really cool stuff. References from this episode https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/web/2013/06/Tracking-Histamine-Leve…

1
Cardiac Biomarkers and Malnutrition Incidence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults without Cardiovascular Disease: The Seniors-ENRICA-2 Cohort 9:40

19d ago9:40

9:40

By Blanca Fabre-Estremera

1
Why are seasonal allergies the worst? 29:11

24d ago29:11

29:11

#097 Rebroadcast Most of us know the feeling. But what are we actually experiencing when we experience allergies? How does being around plants and pollen make us all sniffly? Why does this beautiful season have such a dark side? Let's find out. References from this episode https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538528/ https://www.chemistryworld.com…

1
C&EN Uncovered: Turning tides for endotoxin testing 20:41

26d ago20:41

20:41

The drug industry may finally phase out using horseshoe crab blood. What took so long? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN assistant editor Laurel Oldach about the use of horseshoe crab blood in pharmaceutical endotoxin testing, the challenges of transitioning to synthetic alternatives, and the regulatory hur…

1
Why is red food dye banned? 33:49

1M ago33:49

33:49

#208 Melissa and Jam dive deep into the topic of FDA regulations, particularly focusing on food additives like red food dye. They discuss the complexities of the FDA's approval process, the Delaney Clause, and recent changes in the regulation of red dye number 3, which has been banned in response to cancer risks found in rats. They also delve into …

1
Bonus episode: Introducing Inflection Point 23:42

1M ago23:42

23:42

The new podcast Inflection Point leans on C&EN’s 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how disc…

1
Pharmacogenetic Analysis of CYP2C19 for Clopidogrel: Ready for Prime Time 15:19

1M ago15:19

15:19

By Joshua R Miller

1
Chemistry Support: Where does a fart go? (and other questions) 27:03

1M ago27:03

27:03

Question and Response 65 Melissa and Jam delve into a variety of interesting chemistry-related questions sourced from Reddit. They explore why farts stop smelling over time, the non-oily nature of Castile soap, why cookies and candies remain safe to eat at room temperature, and the mechanics behind rice cookers. They also discuss how opening a bott…

1
Audio Summary April 2025 5:19

1M ago5:19

5:19

1
Can gasoline freeze? 31:05

1M ago31:05

31:05

#207 Melissa and Jam explore why gasoline doesn't freeze in extremely low temperatures while water and other substances do. They delve into the concepts of intermolecular forces, polarity, and how impurities can affect the freezing and melting points of substances. The discussion includes a comparison of the behavior of different substances at vary…

1
A Multianalyte Machine Learning Model to Detect Wrong Blood in Complete Blood Count Tube Errors in a Pediatric Setting 11:06

2M ago11:06

11:06

By Brendan Graham, Stephen Master

1
An AI Model (LORIS) to Predict Immune Checkpoint Blockade Response in Cancer: A Clinical Data Science Perspective 17:20

2M ago17:20

17:20

By David McClintock and Thomas Tavolara

1
What's the chemistry of sticky stuff? 33:14

2M ago33:14

33:14

#011 Rebroadcast Why is honey sticky but salt isn’t? What’s the difference between things that stick and things that just feel sticky? In this episode, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry behind adhesion, cohesion, and the forces that make substances cling to surfaces (and to our fingers). They explore intermolecular forces, viscosity, and why …

1
94. Plutonium: Weapons-Grade

2M ago

—

Element 94 causes a bit of a crisis for our collections.By T. R. Appleton

1
Can I trust the FDA? (from thalidomide to cough medicine) 30:23

2M ago30:23

30:23

#206 Melissa and Jam address a listener's question about the FDA's reliability in approving products. They discuss the intersection of chemistry, government, and society, focusing on FDA's role in regulating food and drugs. The episode includes a deep dive into the historical thalidomide tragedy, the improvements in the FDA's approval process since…

1
Ask a Chemist: Does metal mess up sourdough? (and other questions) 47:25

2M ago47:25

47:25

Ask a Chemist #64 Melissa and Jam delve into intriguing chemistry questions posed by their listeners. They explore whether all salts are salty, the chemistry of gunshot residue and fingerprinting, and the reactions between chemicals and sound waves. Special guest Maison, Melissa's husband, joins to discuss sourdough starter cultures and answer sour…

1
Science, Interrupted: Part 2 44:24

2M ago44:24

44:24

Genetic engineering breakthroughs in the late 1960s and early 1970s came with a lot of promise—and peril too. Fears about what could happen with recombinant DNA experiments put scientists in the middle of a moral dilemma. Did they have a responsibility to consider how others might use their work? Or was their place simply to be on the lab bench? In…

1
Science, Interrupted: Part 1 41:55

2M ago41:55

41:55

Genetic engineering breakthroughs in the late 1960s and early 1970s came with a lot of promise—and peril too. Fears about what could happen with recombinant DNA experiments put scientists in the middle of a moral dilemma. Did they have a responsibility to consider how others might use their work? Or was their place simply to be on the lab bench? In…

1
Audio Summary March 2025 5:29

2M ago5:29

5:29

1
What is going on with science funding?? 44:02

2M ago44:02

44:02

#205 Jam and Melissa discuss the complexities and consequences of recent executive orders surrounding science funding. Melissa provides insight into how these changes impact university research, faculty positions, and broader society. The duo also highlights the historical context and importance of DEI in academia, emphasizing the broader implicati…

1
What is rust and is it kinda cool? 34:46

2M ago34:46

34:46

#047 Rebroadcast 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. References from this episode Turning Back Time: Watching Rust Transform into Iron - National Institute of Standards and Technology The Color of Soil - United States Department of Agricu…

1
New American Society of Hematology Thrombophilia Guidelines Could Provoke Surge in Laboratory Testing 12:57

3M ago12:57

12:57

By Anna E Merrill

1
Xylazine Pharmacokinetics in Patients Testing Positive for Fentanyl and Xylazine 14:23

3M ago14:23

14:23

By Bridgit Crews

1
Rethinking Albuminuria in Low-Risk Patients and a Call for Urine Albumin Standardization 9:09

3M ago9:09

9:09

By Jesse C Seegmiller

1
How do Tums make us feel better? (And why do they make us burp?) 27:31

3M ago27:31

27:31

#114 Rebroadcast Tums, alka seltzer, and other antacids: they're simple, they've been around for a long time, but they're a tried and true method for helping our stomachs. But how do they work? What's the chemistry behind these unsung heroes? References from this episode Chemistry Julia Burdge Biochemistry 4th edition by Garret & Grisham https://ww…

1
What's the Chemistry Inside Sourdough Bread? 41:06

3M ago41:06

41:06

#204 In this episode Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating biochemistry behind sourdough bread. They explore the role of microorganisms, including different strains of yeast and bacteria, in the fermentation process. The discussion covers how these organisms contribute to the unique flavors and textures of sourdough, and addresses common quest…

1
Audio Summary February 2025 5:45

3M ago5:45

5:45

1
From the Perspective of the Child: Ethical Considerations for the Implementation of Genomic Sequencing into Neonatal and Pediatric Care 15:02

3M ago15:02

15:02

By Jill Maron

1
Ask a Chemist: Why do carrots cause hiccups? (and other questions) 29:44

3M ago29:44

29:44

Ask a Chemist #64 In this bonus edition of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam tackle intriguing questions from listeners. They delve into why some people hiccup when eating carrots, the fascinating uses of poinsettias in food packaging, the role of benzene as a carcinogen, and the controversies surrounding hydrogen-rich water bottles.…

1
Why does Benadryl make us sleepy? 38:30

4M ago38:30

38:30

#203 In this episode, Jam recounts a humorous yet enlightening story of accidentally taking a dog-sized dose of Benadryl and the sleepy consequences that followed. Melissa, a chemist, dives deep into the chemistry of antihistamines, explaining the difference between first-generation (drowsy) and second-generation (non-drowsy) antihistamines. The ep…

1
Overcoming Barriers to Genomic Medicine Implementation 16:23

4M ago16:23

16:23

By Heidi L Rehm

1
Clonality Determination by Detecting Unmodified Monoclonal Serum Free Light Chains Using On-Probe Extraction Coupled with Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry 9:55

4M ago9:55

9:55

By Priscilla S.-W. Yeung

1
Ask a Chemist: How can fire have different colors? (and other questions) 24:47

4M ago24:47

24:47

Question and Response 63 In this episode Melissa and Jam embark on an 'Ask a Chemist' segment, delving into the ethics surrounding the field of chemistry and addressing listener questions. They discuss managing discussions on the dark side of chemistry, why certain chemicals emit characteristic colors in the flame test, and share personal experienc…

1
How do poinsettias detect pH levels? 40:41

4M ago40:41

40:41

#202 Melissa and Jam dive into a fun and educational holiday-themed activity using poinsettia plants. They explore the chemistry behind these festive plants, specifically focusing on anthocyanins, which are pigments that give the leaves their red color and act as pH indicators. The episode includes a hands-on experiment that listeners can try at ho…

1
Audio Summary January 2025 9:20

4M ago9:20

9:20

1
What are LEDs and how are they different from other bulbs? 37:42

4M ago37:42

37:42

#075 Rebroadcast Happy holidays, we hope you have a wonderful season whatever you celebrate! We've got a holiday related episode for you: LEDs. Well I guess we use them all year round, but they get an extra spotlight this time of year. What are they? How do they work? How are they different from other lights? Let's find out! References from this ep…

1
What is canned air? (and should we use it?) 46:28

5M ago46:28

46:28

#201 Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry behind air dusters. They explore the components inside these cans, and how the physical properties of these chemicals can lead to rapid evaporation, cold burns, and potential hazards. Listeners will learn about the processes of pressure and boiling, the potential dangers of misuse, and how these air dust…

1
Untargeted Metabolomics for Inborn Errors of Metabolism: Development and Evaluation of a Sustainable Reference Material for Correcting Inter-Batch Variability 14:48

5M ago14:48

14:48

By Roy W A Peake

1
Novel In-Line Hemolysis Detection on a Blood Gas Analyzer and Impact on Whole Blood Potassium Results 7:53

5M ago7:53

7:53

By James H Nichols

1
Chemistry at Home: Chocolate and Gum 10:40

5M ago10:40

10:40

Bonus Episode: Chemistry at Home 12 (Rebroadcast) 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 chocolate and gum. Yep, you read that right. And yes, it's a little gross. Thanks to our monthly supporters Scott B Jessie Reder Ciara Linville J0HNT…

1
Forever Chemicals, Endless Testing? Expert Advice to Be Prepared for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances 12:02

5M ago12:02

12:02

By Frederick G Strathmann

1
What is gum? And what happens when you swallow it? 47:39

5M ago47:39

47:39

#200 In this episode Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating world of chewing gum. They start by discussing awkward combinations of food and gum, leading to an exploration of what gum is made of. The conversation covers the basics of gum composition, including the roles of sugar, flavor, and especially the gum base, which itself is made of polym…

1
C&EN Uncovered: Indoor air monitoring goes to school 19:39

5M ago19:39

19:39

The COVID-19 pandemic put the importance of indoor air quality in stark relief. The air in schools was of particular concern, and that concern spurred collaboration between researchers and school staff to find interventions to improve air quality to safeguard the health of students and staff. Data from indoor air monitors revealed that filter-based…

1
Ask a Chemist: Why are crystals rare? (and other questions) 28:59

5M ago28:59

28:59

Question and Response 62 New College-Style Sweatshirt! In this special bonus episode of Chemistry for Your Life, Melissa and Jam dive into listener-submitted questions, covering everything from the rarity of crystals and the chemistry of sourdough to the science behind melting ice on roads in Canada. Along the way, they explore fun tangents about n…

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