Ep. 19: This is a mess. But there might also be gasoline in here.

06/22/19 • 40 min

In the aftermath of a building fire, investigators study the scene for clues to the fire’s cause. They look for burn patterns and suspicious materials while chemists search charred debris for traces of flammable liquids. But investigating fires is not as straightforward as it once was, because investigators now know more about the complexity of how fires burn. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen explores how scientists are working to better pinpoint specific chemicals amid the chaos a fire leaves behind and how a new understanding of the chemistry and physics of fire has revolutionized the way fire scenes are interpreted.

Nominate innovative young companies for C&EN’s 10 Start-Ups to Watch feature at cenm.ag/startupnom.

A script of this episode is available on our website.

“Blonde” by Nctrnm is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Plain Loafer” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Image credit: UL FSRI

Nominate innovative young companies for C&EN’s 10 Start-Ups to Watch feature at cenm.ag/startupnom.

A script of this episode is available on our website.

“Blonde” by Nctrnm is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Plain Loafer” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Image credit: UL FSRI

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Ep. 18: Our job is to make sure we have the data

Robots in the ocean are giving scientists more details about processes above and below the surface that affect our weather, our food supply, and more. They’re also helping chemical oceanographers understand and record the effects that climate change is having on our waters. The past 2 decades have seen a growing fleet of uncrewed research vessels and a proliferation of chemical sensors, which together are giving chemical oceanographers access to an unprecedented wealth of data. That’s changing not just the way they think the oceans work but also how they themselves work. In this episode, pioneers of ocean robotics and scientists developing new sensors for the crewless vehicles tell tales of that work. And hacky sacks.

For a script of this podcast and a video of a sail drone, visit our website.

Music credits:

“Blind Love Dub” by Jeris is licensed under CC BY 3.0

“Morning Cruise,” “September Sky,” and “Dance of the Pixies” by Jens Kiilstofte are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Where Was I?” by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Image credit: NOAA

Next Episode

Ep. 20: What happens when you take risks?

Research science is full of hazards. Chemists and safety professionals do their best to minimize the danger, but accidents do happen and the stakes can be extremely high. So how can chemists ensure that when things do go wrong—or when they nearly go wrong—that we learn from those experiences to work toward a safer future? Communication is key. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we talk with four chemists who have survived accidents and shared their stories so others can learn from them.

Read the full transcript of this episode here.

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Music credits:

"Pure Water" and "Interplanetary Forest" by Meydän are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Let That Sink In" and "We Don't Know How it Ends" by Lee Rosevere are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Blue Lobster" by Daniel Birch is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Image credit: Shutterstock/C&EN