Sam the Scientist

YouTube video by Sam the Scientist Can we stop relying on plastic? | Ask A Scientist

🧪 Can we move beyond our reliance on plastics?

I explore this question in my Ask a Scientist video series. Give it a look if you're curious!

(I know we've all got busy lives, so this series is designed for each video to be 5 minutes or less.)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pflF...

🧪 Reddit user u/Blahblah987369 asks:

What are your personal buying habits?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

The CDC's covid vaccine considerations for health care professionals page was updated with last month's decisions: www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/va...

Not fast enough for us to need to worry about struggling to breathe. That's one of the expected results of long term climate change, but we have more pressing issues like sea level rise to worry about for the time being.

🧪 Reddit user u/ubet13 asks:

How worrisome do you find astroturf artificial grass?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 My goal as a science communicator is always to expand understanding of our shared world while putting hazards in their proper context. People are often scared of chemicals for good reason, but too much fear leads to paralysis. I explore this more here:

environment.samellman.org/2025/04/the-...

Those approaches certainly help, but the tools available to individuals are less effective than addressing the problem closer to the source. Making sure local governments have the resources and mandate from the people to maintain good water infrastructure and regulate pollution has more impact.

🧪 Reddit user /buttercup_mauler asks:

Do you know what kind of information and studies have been done on the tox side of microplastics?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

Ask a Scientist Live! I'm a chemist with specialties in biodegradable materials and environmental toxicology. Join me for a casual hangout, where I take your questions live, do a little bit of work, and play some piano for...

🧪 I'm going to be answering chemistry questions live today 2PM - 4PM EST:

youtube.com/live/FTJVfBv...

Come join me if you want to talk science or just do some virtual coworking with me!

🧪 Reddit user u/dscoZ asks:

I've read that most "biodegradable" plastics need special environments to break down. Is that true?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/AngryBPDGirl asks:

I checked plasticlist.org and noticed some milk bottled in glass had higher chemical counts than milk bottled in plastic. Why is that?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪

I'm sorry to hear that. The webpage meets a AAA rating according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, so it should theoretically be readable for all audiences. On a color display at medium brightness it should be readable.

If you have functioning organ systems, you are *detoxing* all day. Every day.

Liver
Kidneys
Lungs
GI tract

You’re all good, boo.

Stop buying into conspiracies and claims from wellness profiteers who don’t know basic science.

🧪 Reddit user u/oklevel3 asks:

Could you talk about silicone? It's presented as harmless but I've also heard that it's not.

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/lunalovegood asks:

For laundry detergent - which is the best option? Do detergent sheets release microplastics into the water?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/03/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

Today's brand new final_final_final CDC ACIP meeting agenda dropped: www.cdc.gov/acip/downloa...

Plus, more slide decks: www.cdc.gov/acip/meeting...

🧪

🧪 Reddit user u/Avalanc89 asks:

Is it true that microwaving food in a plastic container contaminates the food with plastic?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

#SharedFacts for #HumanReasoning

Most game design professors at my old university didn't have graduate degrees though, since it's a fairly new field where degrees don't mean much anyway. Idk if finding a professor role would work out realistically, but it seems worth the cost of sending emails to try bugging some department heads.

I'm surprised the degree requirements can't be bent for someone who clearly already knows how to do the job well and has results to prove it. I suppose "academia is byzantine" isn't exactly a fresh take though.

Yo if you aren't listening to Digbar, you aren't living

Have you been approached with any job opportunities? I know the academic world is looking rough right now, but I bet you'd make a hell of a media studies professor, and you have the portfolio to prove it. Plus that could coexist alongside part time Youtube in theory.

My response to this question was written in late 2024, and while this information is still accurate I would like to add that the job market for scientists of all types, and environmental scientists in particular, is very tough right now. Try to stay strong as we weather this storm together.

🧪 Reddit user u/cheerful_altruist asks:

Do you have any tips for a new graduate on finding jobs in Environmental Chemistry?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/That_Boysenberry4501 asks:

What do you think of bioplastics? Why are we not more urgently finding/implementing plastic replacements?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/That_Boysenberry4501 asks:

How can I minimize my exposure to toxins when I make art with plastic?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/That_Boysenberry4501 asks:

How can I minimize my exposure to toxins when I make art with plastic?

Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/02/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!

🧪 Reddit user u/Emergency_Bet_7090 asks:

When brands write "recyclable" or something similar..do they greenwash us?

Answer:
environmentalismsate.blogspot.com/2025/02/envi...

If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!