Show notes
#187This episode of 'Chemistry for Your Life' delves into the fascinating world of gray hair, exploring its chemistry and biological processes. Hosts Melissa and Jam share personal anecdotes about encountering gray hair before diving into a detailed explanation of how hair turns gray. They discuss the roles of melanin, melanocytes, and enzymes like tyrosinase in hair pigmentation, and how an imbalance in hydrogen peroxide levels within hair follicles can lead to gray hair. Additionally, the episode touches on the impact of genetics and the possible effects of stress and cigarette smoking on graying. They wrap up with some fun discussions on making pizzas and interacting with their community of listeners.00:00 Opening Banter: Discovering Gray Hair00:26 Diving Into the Science of Gray Hair01:22 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts02:49 Exploring the Chemistry of Hair Color03:26 Understanding Melanin and Hair Pigmentation07:07 The Process of Hair Coloration09:59 Unraveling the Mystery of Gray Hair11:27 A Deep Dive into the Molecular Mechanisms19:18 Explaining the Gray Hair Phenomenon with an Analogy26:28 Diving into Project Blueprint: A Self-Experimentation Journey27:05 The Science of Reversing Gray Hair: An In-Depth Look32:38 Exploring the Impact of Stress and Smoking on Hair Color36:02 The Fascinating World of Hair Under a Microscope39:59 Sharing Personal Stories and Tips for Outdoor Adventures44:29 A Culinary Adventure: Making the Perfect Pizza50:51 Supporting Chemistry Education: A Call to ActionReferences from this episode: Hair under a microscope pics - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/hair-under-the-microscope-knots-and-splits-can-you-fix-them--99642210476262734/ https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1096/fj.08-125435 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Simplified-pathways-of-tyrosine-derived-melanin-synthesis-showing-enzymatic-steps-subject_fig2_337820571 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8610071/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033715/ https://cen.acs.org/articles/87/i10/Gray-Hair-Blame-Natural-Bleaching.html https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/melanin/3008682.article https://youtu.be/oCtdFSAgKCY 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! 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★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★Check out our website at chemforyourlife.comWatch our episodes on YouTubeFind us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife