
Ask a Chemist: Is Silicone actually safe? (and other questions)
About this episode
What happens when some listeners challenge one of our past episodes? This week we’re revisiting our silicone episodes after several listeners pointed us toward new research. Along the way we answer questions about mosquito wristbands, waterproof mascara, stubborn adhesives, and whether amino acids may have formed on the early Earth after all. It’s an Ask a Chemist episode full of updates, follow-ups, and a reminder that science is always a work in progress.
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Timestamps
- 0:00 – Revisiting our silicone episodes after new research
- 2:00 – Does silicone really leach into food, and should we be worried?
- 10:30 – What we know (and don’t know) about silicone safety
- 17:30 – Do mosquito patches and wristbands actually work?
- 23:30 – How does waterproof mascara stay waterproof?
- 27:20 – A chemistry detour: removing paint and stubborn adhesives
- 30:20 – The Miller–Urey experiment and the origin of amino acids
- 33:20 – Wrap-up + send us your chemistry questions
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