Radiolab
WNYC Studios
Science
Chemistry For Your Life
by Melissa and Jam, Bleav
Today: #190 in Science on our combined chart.
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Ranking history
History builds daily. We started tracking this show on the Science chart recently, so the trend line appears after a second day of data.
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| Date | Apple Podcasts |
|---|---|
| Oct 3 | #173 |
About the show
A podcast that helps you understand the fascinating chemistry hidden in your everyday life.
Have you ever wondered why onions make you cry? Or how soap gets your hands clean? What really is margarine, or why do trees change colors in the fall? Melissa is a chemist, and to answer these questions she started a podcast, called Chemistry for your life!
In each episode Melissa explains the chemistry behind one of life’s mysteries to Jam, who is definitely not a chemist, but she explains it in a way that is easy to understand, and totally fascinating.
If you’re someone who loves learning new things, or who wonders about the way the world works, then give us a listen.
Latest episodes
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Can leftovers be healthier than freshly cooked food?
October 1, 2026 · 45 minCan cooking pasta, rice, or bread, and then cooling it down, actually make it healthier? Could yesterday’s leftovers affect your blood sugar differently than a freshly cooked meal, or is this just another nutrition “hack” invented by the…
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Ask a Chemist: What is "natural gas?" (and other questions)
September 24, 2026 · 26 minWhat’s actually flowing through the “natural gas” pipes connected to your home—and did we get something wrong in our air-conditioning series? Which careers can an organic chemistry student pursue, how do topical pain-relief gels work, and…
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Is red light therapy real or a scam?
September 17, 2026 · 48 minCan shining a red light on your face really improve acne, wrinkles, inflammation, or wound healing, or is red light therapy just an expensive skincare scam involving a slightly alarming mask? How could ordinary visible light affect cells…
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What the heck is going on inside microwaves?
September 10, 2026 · 24 min#007 Rebroadcast Melissa finally explains to Jam how microwaves work after making him wait for an entire week. What the heck is going on inside microwaves? How does it do it's thing and make our food tasty? Is it magic? Support this…
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Which chemistry lessons have stuck with us? (Happy Chemiversary!)
September 3, 2026 · 1 hr 14 minWhat happens when a chemist and a non-chemist make a podcast together for seven years? Which chemistry lessons stuck, which episode ideas spectacularly refused to cooperate, and does Jam still count as a layperson after all this time?…
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Can water air-condition your house?
August 27, 2026 · 32 minWhat exactly is a swamp cooler, and why can it beat the heat in Arizona but leave you sweaty and betrayed in Houston? How can an air conditioner run on water, what does humidity have to do with its effectiveness, and could an icy new…
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What’s the dark side of air conditioning?
August 20, 2026 · 53 minCould a cheaper, more environmentally friendly refrigerant already exist, and could corporate lobbying be helping keep it out of American air conditioners? Why did the chemicals once hailed as safe alternatives become environmental…
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Reddit Chemistry: Why do metals make different-colored flames? (and other questions)
August 13, 2026 · 46 minWhat happens when a chemist ventures onto Reddit to answer the internet’s most pressing science questions? Why does carbon get its own entire branch of chemistry, what makes fireworks burn different colors, and can an invention work even…