#187

This 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 Hair

00:26 Diving Into the Science of Gray Hair

01:22 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts

02:49 Exploring the Chemistry of Hair Color

03:26 Understanding Melanin and Hair Pigmentation

07:07 The Process of Hair Coloration

09:59 Unraveling the Mystery of Gray Hair

11:27 A Deep Dive into the Molecular Mechanisms

19:18 Explaining the Gray Hair Phenomenon with an Analogy

26:28 Diving into Project Blueprint: A Self-Experimentation Journey

27:05 The Science of Reversing Gray Hair: An In-Depth Look

32:38 Exploring the Impact of Stress and Smoking on Hair Color

36:02 The Fascinating World of Hair Under a Microscope

39:59 Sharing Personal Stories and Tips for Outdoor Adventures

44:29 A Culinary Adventure: Making the Perfect Pizza

50:51 Supporting Chemistry Education: A Call to Action

References from this episode:

1. Hair under a microscope pics - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/hair-under-the-microscope-knots-and-splits-can-you-fix-them--99642210476262734/
   


2. https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1096/fj.08-125435
   


3. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Simplified-pathways-of-tyrosine-derived-melanin-synthesis-showing-enzymatic-steps-subject_fig2_337820571
   


4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8610071/
   


5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033715/


6. https://cen.acs.org/articles/87/i10/Gray-Hair-Blame-Natural-Bleaching.html


7. https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/melanin/3008682.article


8. 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!

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