What Makes Jam...Jam?
What makes jam go from runny fruit to a perfectly spreadable jelly? In this episode of Chemists in the Kitchen, chemists and engineers break down the science behind homemade blueberry jam and explore how pectin, sugar, acid, and heat work together to create the perfect texture.
Using a blueberry jam recipe inspired by the National Center for Home Preservation, the team experiments with frozen blueberries, lemon juice, sugar, and pectin while explaining the chemistry happening inside the pot. Along the way, they discuss why jam sometimes fails to set, how acid changes pectin interactions, what a “rolling boil” really means, and why sugar helps preserve fruit.
Destroy Boys & LabX
Destroy Boys joined LabX Out Loud for a live studio session that brings science directly into the heart of a punk performance. Filmed at The Recording Club in Los Angeles, the collaboration combines a full live set with conversations about black holes, cosmic “reverb,” the shape of the universe, and the physics hidden inside sound itself.
Part concert, part conversation, and part scientific exploration, the session reflects the mission of LabX Out Loud: embedding scientists into cultural spaces where curiosity can emerge naturally. Rather than separating science from the performance, the collaboration weaves scientific ideas into the experience, creating unexpected connections between music, discovery, and the questions that drive both artists and researchers.
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LabX is a public engagement testbed at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that boldly experiments with a variety of creative—sometimes even unorthodox—approaches designed to reach diverse audiences. Like all experiments, some of them fail. Some of them succeed! Either way, it will be interesting … dare we say fun?