logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
28m 6s

Bonus: Fun Fact or Fake Factoid?! A Chem...

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
About this episode

In this bonus game edition of 'Chemistry For Your Life', host Melissa, co-host Jam, and guest Claire embark on an entertaining journey of debunking or verifying popular 'fun facts' submitted by their listeners. The game, titled 'Fun Fact or Fake Factoid', involves dissecting quirky trivia ranging from the pollination of tomatoes to the weight of all ants versus humans, and the smell of old books. The episode blends humor, friendly competition, and scientific inquiry, including surprising personal anecdotes and genuine compliments. Special thanks are given to the show's Patreon supporters who contributed the intriguing facts for this episode.

00:00 Introduction and Game Setup
03:32 First Fun Fact: Tomato Pollination
07:15 Second Fun Fact: Ants vs. Humans
11:52 Third Fun Fact: The Smell of Old Books
13:49 The Smell of Old Books Explained
14:47 Vanilla and Dopamine Connection
15:26 Fun Fact: Glacial Ice and Freshwater
18:34 Longest Word Typed with Left Hand
22:12 The Egg Inside Your Grandma
25:13 Wrapping Up and Thank Yous
References from this episode:

  1. https://nenativeplants.psla.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3415/2021/11/Constructing-Bee-Habitats-for-Crops-Benefiting-Buzz-Pollinators.pdf
  2. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-0092
  3. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2201550119
  4. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ac9016049
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10818928/
  6. https://www.rd.com/article/longest-word-type-left-hand/
  7. https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/fertility-preservation/for-female-patients/normal-ovarian-function#:~:text=Current%20knowledge%20indicates%20that%20females,number%20of%20eggs%20each%20month.
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26842/

We want to give a VERY special thanks to Claire for sharing her knowledge with us and for her most pleasant company!

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

  • Scott B
  • Jessie Reder
  • Ciara Linville
  • J0HNTR0Y
  • Jeannette Napoleon
  • Cullyn R
  • Erica Bee
  • Elizabeth P
  • Sarah Moar
  • Rachel Reina
  • Letila
  • Katrina Barnum-Huckins
  • Suzanne Phillips
  • 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 ★ ★ Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel ★

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

Watch our episodes on YouTube

Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife

Up next
Jul 3
What gives curly hair its curl?
#027 Rebroadcast Originally Published January 23, 2020 This week, Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry of something that may not seem like chemistry at first: hair. Curly hair to be specific. What makes hair curl? Also what is hair in the first place? Why can hair be so radica ... Show More
28m 18s
Jun 26
Are organic vegetables healthier for you?
Melissa and Jam dive into the definition and implications of organic foods. They explore what organic means according to USDA standards, dissect common misconceptions about pesticide use, and discuss whether organic produce is actually healthier. This detailed analysis includes M ... Show More
57m 52s
Jun 19
Ask a Chemist: Explain it like I'm five?
This episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' features Melissa and Jam tackling various chemistry questions sourced from the 'Explain Like I'm Five' subreddit. They aim to explain complex chemistry concepts in a manner even a 5-year-old could understand. Questions discussed include w ... Show More
30 m
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Science of Elden Ring, Walmart Entomology, Architectural %&@*-Measuring Contest
This week, Rachel explores Walmart for new insect species, Jess divulges the science behind Elden Ring's corpse wax, and John talks about New York City architects hiding spires in their buildings to one-up each other. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by Popular ... Show More
52m 20s
Jan 2024
A Brief History of Bling
Travel through 50,000 years of human history following clues hidden inside beads made from ostrich eggshells. In this episode, researchers Jennifer Miller and Yiming Wang share how these tiny artifacts reveal a sweeping story of ancient social networks, cultural connections, and ... Show More
26m 38s
Feb 2025
Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just for Romance—The Science of Deep Friendships
Love isn’t just about romance. This Valentine’s Day, we’re exploring the power of deep nonromantic bonds. Host Rachel Feltman sits down with Rhaina Cohen, a producer and editor for NPR’s podcast Embedded and author of The Other Significant Others, to discuss the history and psych ... Show More
17m 2s
Jan 2024
Nature's Weirdest Sleepers, Iron Maiden Myths, Parking Psychology
Welcome to Season 8! Producer Jess Boddy joins the show to talk about the mythical iron maiden (as inspired by Resident Evil 4), Rachel talks about nature's weirdest sleepers, and Amanda explains the fascinating rabbit hole that is American parking psychology. The Weirdest Thing ... Show More
1h 7m
Dec 2023
LIVE SHOW: Trees are Fake, Fortune-Telling Cheese, Sunscreen Secrets, Magical Misogyny
In our live show from August of 2023, Rachel talks about magicians' tricks and their hidden misogyny, Sara explains how trees aren't real (and why we are all crabs), Claire details the history of sunscreen, and Jess dives into telling fortunes using cheese. The Weirdest Thing I L ... Show More
1h 12m
Nov 2024
Science Vs: The Funniest Joke in the World
When he rounded them up, he had a 100. A few months ago, Wendy Zuckerman invited our own Latif Nasser to come on her show, and, of course, he jumped at the chance. Laughter ensued, as they set off to find the "The Funniest Joke in the World." When you just Google something like t ... Show More
42m 52s
Jul 2024
Surgery For Ants, Hot Sharks, Too Many Galaxies
Astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier rejoins the show to talk about how there are too many galaxies out there. Plus, Sara Kiley talks about sharks of yore and Rachel explains how ants are becoming little mini surgeons. The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by ... Show More
56m 46s
Feb 2025
Vertigogo
In this episode, first aired in 2012, we have two stories of brains pushed off-course. We relive a surreal day in the life of a young researcher hijacked by her own brain, and hear from a librarian experiencing a bizarre and mysterious set of symptoms that she called “gravitation ... Show More
25m 48s
Dec 2024
Orca Fashion, Cookie Cannibalism, BEAR ATTACK!!
Alex Goldman of Hyperfixed and Reply All joins the show to talk about a historic bear attack incident in Japan. Plus, Amanda talks about why stuff tastes different at 30,000 feet, and Rachel explains the latest fashion trend among killer whales. Get tickets for our upcoming LIVE ... Show More
47m 42s
Mar 2021
Radioactive Bananas, Self-Decapitating Sea Slugs, Maine's Jumping Frenchmen
Theoretical physicist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein joins the show! The weirdest things we learned this week range from non-trinary particles to kleptoplasty. Whose story will be voted "The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week"? The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week is a podcast by ... Show More
46m 58s