logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
31m 18s

How can sunlight turn into electricity?

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
About this episode
This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of solar energy. How do we capture energy from the sun and turn it into electricity? Is it as super insanely cool as it seems? Are we living in the future already? 
Up next
Jan 22
Why does orange juice taste bad after you brush your teeth?
#037 Rebroadcast It's the lesson we've all had to learn the hard way. The pain our mouths feel when we take a treacherous swig of the post-brush poison. This week, Melissa and Jam delve into all of our childhoods to figure out the chemistry of this infamous mixture. Why does it t ... Show More
28m 4s
Jan 15
Does wool actually resist odor and bacteria?
#229 What makes wool an essential fabric for many people? Is lanolin truly antimicrobial, or is wool itself responsible for its famed properties? Join us as we unravel the complexities of wool and lanolin, diving into its chemical structure, historical anecdotes, and surprising a ... Show More
41m 9s
Jan 8
Ask a Chemist: Are X-rays really bad for you? (and other questions)
Question and Response #74 Melissa and Jam dive into a series of fascinating chemistry questions submitted by listeners. They explore how food affects the absorption rate of alcohol in the blood, the science behind shelf-stable milk turning solid after opening, and why dogs' feet ... Show More
37m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
AaS! 218: How Do We Know What the Milky Way Looks Like?
<p class="" data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Why is it so hard to get a picture of the Milky Way? How much of our galaxy have we mapped? What the heck is a "barred spiral" and what does that have to do with our core? I discuss these questions and more in today's Ask a Spaceman!</p> <p clas ... Show More
37m 12s
Jul 2021
Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch || Dear Therapists
Today it’s great to chat with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch on the podcast. Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which has sold over a million copies and is currently being adapted as a television series. In a ... Show More
57m 2s
Feb 2024
Say More - Ira Glass on Is This It?
Ira Glass has created over 800 episodes of the genre-defining radio show and podcast This American Life. Each week on the show he weaves together stories around a central narrative theme and he never shies away from the big hard questions. But after almost 30 years of producing t ... Show More
49m 16s
Feb 2024
Why We Get Depressed with Heather Berlin
<p>What is depression? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly break down the neuroscience behind major depression, its treatments, and the factors that contribute to this pervasive condition with neuroscientist Heather Berlin, PhD.</p><p>NOTE: StarTalk+ Pat ... Show More
46m 53s
Jan 2024
Distant Stars // Shooting Star Testing // NASA’s Deep Space Network | S27E06
tail spinning
28m 51s
Oct 2023
ICYMI: Favorite Moments With Sumner
On this special episode of BFE, we bring you our favorite podcast moments with The Home Edit’s Sumner Canfield. Do you know the story of how Sumner first met Clea and Joanna? How about her first very memorable day on the job? And let’s really dig into her love of Coca-Cola. It’s ... Show More
28m 46s
Feb 2024
G: The World's Smartest Animal
<p>This episode begins with a rant. This rant, in particular, comes from Dan Engber - a science writer who loves animals but despises animal intelligence research. Dan told us that so much of the way we study animals involves tests that we think show a human is smart ... not the ... Show More
50m 20s
May 2021
Russell Kane: How To Build Confidence & Stay Young
My guest this week is Russell Kane, a Multi-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter. Russell Kane is best known for the BBC Radio 4 podcast Evil Genius, which has become a flagship show and was the best performing original podcast on the BBC Sounds platf ... Show More
1h 45m
Jan 2024
How to Keep Time: Time Tips From the Universe
Time can feel like a subjective experience—different at different points in our lives. It’s also a real, measurable thing. The universe may be too big to fully comprehend, but what we do know could help inform the ways we approach our understanding of ourselves, our purpose, and ... Show More
36m 24s