logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
46m 28s

What is canned air? (and should we use i...

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
About this episode
Melissa and Jam dive into the chemistry behind air dusters. They explore the components inside these cans, and how the physical properties of these chemicals can lead to rapid evaporation, cold burns, and potential hazards. Listeners will learn about the processes of pressure and boiling, the potential dangers of misuse, and how these air dusters work to cle ... Show More
Up next
Oct 8
Is science always right?
Rebroadcast #068 This week we issue a correction, joining other science publications issuing the same correction. That's kind of an obvious answer to the question of "Is science always right?" So in this episode we explore that question, as well as what happens when science isn't ... Show More
34m 34s
Oct 1
Can leftovers be healthier than freshly cooked food?
Can 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 internet? Melissa and Jam investigate star ... Show More
44m 52s
Sep 24
Ask a Chemist: What is "natural gas?" (and other questions)
What’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 what could make a successful HIV medicati ... Show More
25m 39s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
The Very Dust, Part 3
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of dust, from the scientific facts to the magical and the mythical. See omnystudi ... Show More
47m 25s
Apr 2024
The Very Dust, Part 1
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of dust, from the scientific facts to the magical and the mythical. See omnystudi ... Show More
42m 8s
Apr 2024
The Very Dust, Part 4: Mythology in Dust
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of dust, from the scientific facts to the magical and the mythical. See omnystudi ... Show More
40m 5s
Apr 2024
The Very Dust, Part 5
What exactly constitutes dust? What creatures thrive on it? How does it factor into our planet’s atmosphere? In this series of episodes from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the world of dust, from the scientific facts to the magical and the mythical. (Part 5 of 5) ... Show More
37m 55s
Apr 2021
Dissolver of Worlds
In this episode of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast, Robert and Joe discuss the nature of the Alkahest, the universal solvent of alchemy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1h 12m
Dec 2021
What is Zodiacal Light?
Daniel and Jorge talk about the amazing physics of space DUST. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
51m 36s
Apr 2023
Thar She Blows, Part 2
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the science of whale spout, as well as various misconceptions about just how watery, caustic or explosive these plumes really are. (Part 2 of 2)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
53m 12s
Apr 2023
Thar She Blows, Part 1
In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the science of whale spout, as well as various misconceptions about just how watery, caustic or explosive these plumes really are. (Part 1 of 2)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
39m 56s
Sep 2023
Stickiness, Part 3
We encounter sticky surfaces and sticky substances everyday, but what exactly IS “stickiness?” In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the physical properties of stickiness and look at some very sticky examples from the natural world. See omnystudio.com ... Show More
59m 14s
Aug 2023
Stickiness, Part 2
We encounter sticky surfaces and sticky substances everyday, but what exactly IS “stickiness?” In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the physical properties of stickiness and look at some very sticky examples from the natural world.See omnystudio.com/ ... Show More
53m 31s