
Is crying chemistry? (the fascinating science of tears)
04/21/22 • 38 min
#133
Have you ever wondered what tears are? If not, is it because you think you already know? Chances are, you don't actually know what tears are! It's probably more complex than you'd expect. Grab some tissues, let's get into it!
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- https://cen.acs.org/articles/89/i2/Sad-Tears-Carry-Chemical-Signals.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060216/
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/pr0497576
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5898890/
- https://journals-sagepub-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1177/147470490900700302
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7294117/
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iJ5r8SQ4NRUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA19&dq=emotional+tears+vs.+irritant+tear&ots=DEM0UZQ6iA&sig=T6CAwGAXSIJPMyIjnpJ9502QaIw#v=onepage&q=emotional%20tears%20vs.%20irritant%20tear&f=false
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Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
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- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- 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
#133
Have you ever wondered what tears are? If not, is it because you think you already know? Chances are, you don't actually know what tears are! It's probably more complex than you'd expect. Grab some tissues, let's get into it!
How to start a podcast. <- Check this out if you've got a podcast idea you want to make happen!
References from this episode
- https://cen.acs.org/articles/89/i2/Sad-Tears-Carry-Chemical-Signals.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060216/
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/pr0497576
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5898890/
- https://journals-sagepub-com.libproxy.library.unt.edu/doi/10.1177/147470490900700302
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7294117/
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iJ5r8SQ4NRUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA19&dq=emotional+tears+vs.+irritant+tear&ots=DEM0UZQ6iA&sig=T6CAwGAXSIJPMyIjnpJ9502QaIw#v=onepage&q=emotional%20tears%20vs.%20irritant%20tear&f=false
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
And seriously, we love using Transistor. Check it out to be sure your podcast makes a bang.
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- 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
Previous Episode

Why does rain smell?
#029 Rebroadcast
What's that smell? This week, Melissa and Jam explore the chemistry of smell. Now a lot of smell science has to do with our physiology and neurology. We'll talk some about that, but the chemistry has to do with the actual smells in the air. What are they? How do they get into the air? How can we detect them with our noses and brains? Why does rain have a smell, and why does it smell good? Let's find out.
References from this episode
- Aerosol generation by raindrop impact on soil - Young Soo Joung & Cullen R. Buie, Nature Communications
- 2 Americans Win Nobel for Demystifying Sense of Smell - Lawrence K. Altman, The New York Times
- The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2004 Press Release - Richard Axel & Linda B. Buck, The Nobel Prize
- A Novel Multigene Family May Encode Odorant Receptors: A Molecular Basis for Odor Recognition - Buck and Axel
- Chemists and bad smells (and sulfur): A productive pairing - Ashutosh Jogalekar, Scientific American
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2017/the-smell-of-durian-explained.html
- https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/reactions/videos/2018/whats-that-after-rain-smell-made-of.html
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- 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
Next Episode

Bonus: Animals have tears? (and other questions)
Bonus Episode: Question and Response 30
In this month's bonus episode, Melissa and Jam respond to comments and questions about lobsters, crying, lightning, colored fire, and more!
Want to start your own podcast? Use Transistor and you'll have the best podcast platform available. We use it and we are totally in love with it.
Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife.
Email us at [email protected]
And check out our chill, simple little website at https://chemforyourlife.transistor.fm/
Thanks to our monthly supporters
- Ciara Linville
- J0HNTR0Y
- Jeannette Napoleon
- Cullyn R
- Erica Bee
- Elizabeth P
- Sarah Moar
- Rachel Reina
- Letila
- Katrina Barnum-Huckins
- Suzanne Phillips
- Nelly Silva
- 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
Chemistry For Your Life - Is crying chemistry? (the fascinating science of tears)
Transcript
Hey. I'm Melissa.
JamI'm Jam.
MelissaAnd I'm a chemist.
JamAnd I'm not.
MelissaAnd welcome to chemistry for your life.
JamThe podcast helps you understand the chemistry of your everyday life.
MelissaIf you like this episode you’ll love
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