Why does hair turn grey when we age?

Chemistry For Your Life

#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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