logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
44m 12s

Why does ice float on water?

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
About this episode

#140

Ice is water right? It's just that it's solid. So why does it float in liquid water? And also why does water expand when it freezes, when typically things contract when they freeze? These are things we are used to observing daily, but they actually are a little strange, and we bet the answer will surprise you.

How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!


References from this episode

  1. Chemistry - Julia Burdge
  2. https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/climatescience/oceansicerocks.html
  3. https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i34/Galileo-Ice.html


Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at chemforyourlife@gmail.com
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.

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 ★
Up next
Aug 21
What makes fireflies glow?
Melissa and Jam delve into the fascinating chemistry behind fireflies' bioluminescence. They explore how fireflies produce light through a complex series of chemical reactions involving specific molecules like luciferin and enzymes like luciferase. The discussion extends to how t ... Show More
56m 31s
Aug 14
Ask a Chemist: What would be worse, drinking bleach or gasoline? (and other questions)
Melissa and Jam dive into a variety of listener-submitted questions. They discuss the science behind fluffy shave ice versus mainland shaved ice, the effectiveness and safety of ozone treatments for smoke smells, and the potential impact of glyphosate on human health. They also e ... Show More
48m 53s
Aug 7
Why is sweat salty?
Melissa and Jam explore the science behind why sweat is salty. They discuss personal experiences with sweating, the types of sweat glands, and the chemical processes involved in sweat production. The episode explains how osmosis, ion channels, and salt concentrations contribute t ... Show More
37m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
On Thin Ice: Supercharged Phytoplankton (Part 1)
All aboard the Nathaniel B. Palmer, a research vessel making its way through the waters of West Antarctica. Journalist Sofia Moutinho is joining a team of chemists trying to find out how glacial melting is changing ocean chemistry—and what those changes might mean for the global ... Show More
21 m
May 2024
The Magic of Chemistry with Kate the Chemist
What is chemistry? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice take fan questions on exothermic reactions, PFAS, ice cream, sugar, fire, and more with Kate Biberdorf, aka Kate the Chemist.NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:  https://sta ... Show More
42m 58s
Jan 2024
AaS! 215: How Does Science Regain Trust?
What forces people to lose trust in science? How does this affect the process of science itself? What are scientists doing to make this worse? How can we fix it? In this special episode themed from my latest book, I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! This ... Show More
48m 38s
Jun 2024
Ep. 724: Summer (Science & Sci Fi) Reads
Astronomy Cast Ep. 724: Summer (Science & Sci Fi) ReadsFraser & Pamela list their favorite books! Take notes! It’s almost time for our summer hiatus. A time to catch up on all that reading. We’ll give you some book recommendations, and what we’re hoping to read during the summer. ... Show More
31m 11s
Jun 2024
Wolves, water, and global weirding
What do wolves, waste-water treatment plants, and the Gulf Stream have in common? This episode, that’s what! It’s that wonderful time when we comb through all your wonderful questions and call up some scientists to help us answer them. Some of the more unlikely things that get br ... Show More
21m 30s
Feb 2024
AaS! 218: How Do We Know What the Milky Way Looks Like?
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! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give ... Show More
39m 57s
May 2024
The Internet Is Full of Deepfakes, and the Sky Is Full of Trash
AI-generated images of Katy Perry at Monday’s Met Gala looked so realistic they even duped her mom. And it just so happens that ChatGPT developer OpenAI released a new tool to detect fake images generated by DALL-E—the very next day.  Join Scientific American, Springer Nature and ... Show More
9m 10s