Chemistry For Your Life

MRIs are loud. They’re huge. They’re magnetic. But what are they actually doing? This week, we bring Claire back to help us connect the dots between NMR (yes, organic chem flashbacks) and MRI. How does a technique built on tiny hydrogen protons turn into a 3D image of your brain? How can it tell the difference between tissue and fluid? Why can’t you bring metal anywhere near the machine?

We ask:

• What are your protons doing inside an MRI?

• How does “magnetic resonance” become an image?

• Why does oxygenated blood matter?

• And how did anyone figure this out in the first place?

If you’ve ever had an MRI, or just wondered how we can see inside the body without radiation or surgery, this episode pulls back the curtain.

Listen in and rethink what’s happening inside that giant magnet.

00:00 MRI Episode Kickoff

01:11 Meet Claire Again

02:27 PhD Candidate Explained

03:44 NMR Basics Begin

04:33 Protons And Magnets

06:46 RF Pulse And Signal

11:16 Hydrogen Everywhere

13:35 Reading NMR Peaks

16:02 Matrix And Practice

18:31 Jam Summarizes NMR

20:44 Why MRI Not NMR

22:45 Spin And Isotopes

29:02 MRI Uses Body Water

30:37 Tissue Contrast And T1

33:38 Resolution Limits

34:25 MRI Resolution Limits

35:34 From NMR to Images

36:50 K Space and Gradients

41:30 Voxels and 3D Views

44:05 Contrast and Clinical Uses

49:47 Research Possibilities

51:11 Functional MRI Explained

56:14 MRI Safety and Magnet Strength

58:00 Helium and Heavy Machines

01:02:43 Science Boundaries and Wrap Up

 

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References from the Episode:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

Kyle McCray

Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

Julie S.

Heather Ragusa

Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon
Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#079 Rebroadcast

Glass. The more you look at it, the more clear it becomes that it holds some serious mysteries. So what really is glass? Is it a liquid? How is it different from typical solids? Does it flow and ooze over time? Is that why old windows are thicker at the bottom? Let's find out!

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References from this episode

https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i47/s-glass-modern-day-researchers.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245478/

https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/Glass/glass.html

https://phys.org/news/2016-03-scientists-temperature-glass-liquid.html

https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jace.15092

https://cen.acs.org/articles/93/i20/Pyrex-100.html

Chemistry by Julia Burdge

 
Thanks to our monthly supporters

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Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

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Autoclave

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Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

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#231

Why is ice so slippery? Is it because of a layer of water on top, or is it something more complex? Join us as we 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 memories. Perfect for anyone who's ever wondered why ice makes us slip and slide!

00:00 Experiencing Alaska in Texas

00:24 The Chemistry of Ice and Snow

01:42 Why is Ice Slippery?

03:10 Listener Questions and Ice Skating Chemistry

04:02 Debunking Ice Slipperiness Theories

11:42 Water's Unique Properties

17:43 Pressure and Melting Ice

22:30 Scientific Findings on Ice Slipperiness

24:12 Addressing Common Comments

24:31 The Science of Ice Skating

25:30 New Research on Ice

26:37 Amorphous Solids and Ice

37:09 Practical Implications of Ice Behavior

41:12 Snow Day Memories

49:14 Supporting the Show

Support this podcast on Patreon

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References from the Episode:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

Kyle McCray

Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

Julie S.

Heather Ragusa

Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon
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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 I'm Five' subreddit, in this engaging episode of Chemistry for Your Life. Plus, find out how popular TV shows might be influencing career choices and explore the fascinating world of chemical reactions. Got a burning question? Tune in and satisfy your curiosity with Chemistry for Your Life!

00:00 Introduction and Episode Inspiration

01:25 Why Birds Don't Get Shocked on Electrical Wires

06:57 The Science Behind Cake Mixes and Baking

10:13 Why Some Materials Burn and Others Don't

12:51 Why Hot Beverages Steam Below Boiling Point

15:31 Am I the Jerk? - Discussing Career Choices

18:45 Family Ties in Medicine

19:17 Influence of TV Shows on Career Choices

20:18 Realizations About Medical Careers

22:09 Exploring Alternative Medical Careers

23:46 Advice for Aspiring Medical Professionals

26:05 Considering the Medical Field Despite Challenges

36:02 Celebrating Academic Achievements

38:00 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Support this podcast on Patreon

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References from the Episode:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

Kyle McCray

Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

Julie S.

Heather Ragusa

Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

Avishai Barnoy

Hunter Reardon

Support this podcast on Patreon
Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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#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, discover some fascinating insights into energy distribution, the impact of fans on air conditioning, and even some fun personal anecdotes about staying cool in the Texas heat.

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:44 The Science Behind Cooling with Fans

01:27 Egg Analogy: Understanding Heat Transfer

03:39 How Fans Actually Work

10:47 The Role of Air Conditioners

12:31 Understanding Air Cooling Mechanisms

13:11 Insights from a Power Company

13:45 The Science Behind Fans and Energy Efficiency

16:28 Evaporative Cooling and Its Benefits

17:21 Explaining the Concept Back

21:37 Personal Experiences with Cooling

24:12 Supporting the Show and Community

27:08 A Funny Camp Counselor Story

Support this podcast on Patreon

Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel

Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com

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References from the Episode:

Thanks to our monthly supporters

Amanda Raymond

Emily Morrison

Kyle McCray

Justine

Emily Hardy

Ash

Vince W

Julie S.

Heather Ragusa

Autoclave

Dorien VD

Scott Beyer

Jessie Reder

J0HNTR0Y

Jeannette Napoleon

Cullyn R

Erica Bee

Elizabeth P

Rachel Reina

Letila

Katrina Barnum-Huckins

Suzanne Phillips

Venus Rebholz

Jacob Taber

Brian Kimball

Kristina Gotfredsen

Timothy Parker

Steven Boyles

Chris Skupien

Chelsea B

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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.