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52m 39s

What makes ice slippery? (A surprising s...

Melissa and Jam, Bleav
About this episode
Why is ice so slippery? Is it because of a layer of water on top, or is it something more complex? Join Melissa, a chemist, and her non-chemist friend Jam as they dive into the chemistry behind icy surfaces, inspired by a curious 5-year-old's question. You'll hear about experimental findings, the special properties of water, and even some amusing snow day me ... Show More
Up next
Feb 5
Reddit Chemistry: Why don't birds get shocked on power lines? (and other questions)
Why can birds sit on electrical wires without getting shocked? What's the chemistry behind cake mix versus baking from scratch? Why do some materials create more fire than others? Melissa and Jam tackle these questions and more, drawn from curious listeners and the 'Explain Like ... Show More
40m 4s
Jan 29
How do fans cool us off?
#230 Winter has us longing for warmer weather. BUT when it's a hot day how do fans keep us cool? Do fans actually lower the air temperature? What role does evaporative cooling play? Find out how the movement of air molecules around your body is the key to feeling cooler. Plus, di ... Show More
27m 57s
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
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