Question and Response 62

New College-Style Sweatshirt!

In this special bonus episode of Chemistry for Your Life, Melissa and Jam dive into listener-submitted questions, covering everything from the rarity of crystals and the chemistry of sourdough to the science behind melting ice on roads in Canada. Along the way, they explore fun tangents about nostalgic movies, glow-in-the-dark nostalgia, and much more. It’s an eclectic mix of chemistry, pop culture, and community interaction!
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#199

In this episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life,' hosts Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry behind the popular belief that eating carrots improves night vision. They take a deep dive into the scientific processes, including how beta carotene from carrots is converted into vitamin A, then into rhodopsin, and how this helps with night vision. They also discuss the historical context of this belief, dating back to World War II propaganda, and expand their discussion to include other fall foods rich in beta carotene, such as pumpkins and sweet potatoes. The episode also touches on fun facts, personal anecdotes, and a special shout-out to a new community member.

00:00 Introduction to the Fun Chemistry Topic
00:17 The Carrot Myth and World War II Propaganda
01:19 Matching Outfits and Personal Stories
06:36 Shoutout to New Community Member
07:14 The Science Behind Carrots and Vision
26:22 Vitamin A and Night Vision
27:47 Explaining the Chemistry of Beta Carotene
29:07 The Process of Beta Carotene Conversion
30:27 Understanding Rhodopsin Formation
31:07 The Role of Vitamin A in Vision
41:29 Fun Facts and Fall Foods
48:56 Supporting the Podcast and Community
50:11 Acknowledging Supporters and Conclusion

References from this episode:

1. Organic chemistry by David R. Klein
2. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-wwii-propaganda-campaign-popularized-the-myth-that-carrots-help-you-see-in-the-dark-28812484/
3. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-wwii-propaganda-campaign-popularized-the-myth-that-carrots-help-you-see-in-the-dark-28812484/
4. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/beta-carotene/3005712.article
5. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2181967#:~:text=The%20key%20step%20in%20vitamin,of%20all%2Dtrans%2Dretinal.

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!

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#055 Rebroadcast

Ever notice that honey crystalizes? Isn't that like super weird? Why does it do that? This week, Melissa and Jam risk getting stuck in this question.

References from this episode

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5884753/
2. https://www.usda.gov/codex
3. https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/PDF---Guidance-for-Industry--Proper-Labeling-of-Honey-and-Honey-Products.pdf
4. Honey: Chemical composition, stability and authenticity, da Silva et. Al
5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.09.051

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• Suzanne Phillips
• Nelly Silva
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• Lyn Stubblefield
• Jacob Taber
• Brian Kimball
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