Chemistry For Your Life

#030 Rebroadcast

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?

References from this episode

1. Aerosol generation by raindrop impact on soil - Young Soo Joung & Cullen R. Buie, Nature Communications


2. 2 Americans Win Nobel for Demystifying Sense of Smell - Lawrence K. Altman, The New York Times


3. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2004 Press Release - Richard Axel & Linda B. Buck, The Nobel Prize


4. A Novel Multigene Family May Encode Odorant Receptors: A Molecular Basis for Odor Recognition - Buck and Axel


5. Chemists and bad smells (and sulfur): A productive pairing - Ashutosh Jogalekar, Scientific American

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#186

In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' hosts Melissa and Jam explore the common notion that elderly people have a distinct smell. They delve into the scientific basis behind this observation, discussing the role of volatile organic compounds, fatty acids on our skin, and how these compounds can change with age. The episode features discussions on different studies that have attempted to identify specific compounds associated with 'old people smell' and debates their findings. It also touches upon cultural and dietary influences on body odor, the impact of hygiene practices, and the psychological aspects of scent perception. Additionally, the hosts reflect on the influence of other environmental factors like hospital scents on our perception of 'old people smell.' The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion on favorite smells, emphasizing the complexity and variability of human olfactory experiences.

00:00 Introduction to the Mystery of the Elderly Scent

00:41 Diving Into the Science: What Causes the Elderly Scent?

01:25 Community Shoutout and Listener Contributions

03:48 Exploring the Chemistry of Skin and Aging

07:37 Scientific Studies and the Debate Over Elderly Scent

15:17 Cultural Factors and the Universality of Elderly Scent

21:29 Concluding Thoughts on the Science of Scent and Aging

23:22 Exploring the Science of Smell and Age

23:54 Perceptions and Variables in Smell Research

24:42 Personal Anecdotes and Smell Associations

26:24 Consumer Products and Their Influence on Smell

29:05 The Debate Over Persimmon Soap

32:00 Skepticism Towards Marketing Claims

35:09 Favorite Smells and Personal Memories

 

References from this Episode

1. https://scholar-google-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/citations?hl=en&user=5fCySaUAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate


2. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/well/live/do-older-people-have-a-different-smell.html


3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2574753/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3364187/


4. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0022-202X(15)41198-4


5. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/old-person-smell/


6. https://www.reddit.com/r/chemistry/comments/1at59dv/why_doesnt_regular_soap_work_on_nonenal_old/


7. https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/unftyx/til_what_causes_old_people_smell_as_our_skin/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

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


• 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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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

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 ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Buy our merch at chemforyourlife.com/store

Watch our episodes on YouTube

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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
   

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


• 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 ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.

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.

#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

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 ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.

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.