@samthescientist
R&D Scientist / Science Educator / Free Information Advocate Environmental Chemist/Materials Scientist with specialties in biodegradable materials synthesis, biodegradation, and toxicology He/Him www.samellman.org
🧪So many of the questions I receive pick at the edges of the much more fundamental question of "What are fossil fuels? Why do we use them? Can they be replaced?"
So this week I answer the question in plain English:
What even is crude oil?
environment.samellman.org/2025/10/what...
Very cool technology, and I'm strongly in favor of it, but it's also expensive both in terms of money and energy usage. It would take a lot to convince the powers that be that it is a worthwhile investment. That kind of convincing is outside my skillset at a scientist, we need activists for that.
Great summary! I'll add that state government isn't the only one to watch. Town and county governments make lots of important decisions about your local environment, since they run dumps and water treatment plants. It pays to think globally and act locally!
🧪 Reddit user u/uncivilized_engineer asks:
What household chemicals and popular items have the greatest impact on pollution in storm and sanitary wastewater?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/11/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
🧪 Reddit user u/nifsea asks:
What do you think about those plastic eating microbes? Can they actually break down plastic, and are the broken down compounds safe?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/11/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
Apple & Google removed ICE tracking apps in their app stores.
TikTok reportedly suppressed videos criticizing ICE & the shooting of Alex Pretti.
Meta blocked Facebook groups tracking ICE & links to a database of agents that the government wants to keep secret.
Big Tech is enabling Trump's regime.
Gutowski tweets: “It's still early in the aftermath, and more video or audio might come to light that changes the analysis. The videos we do have look very bad, though, and appear to contradict DHS claims. Minneapolis police have also already said the man who was shot had a ccw permit.”
Second amendment advocate Stephen Gutowski reposted by conservative Christian radio guy Erick Erickson.
🧪 How much poison is in our food?
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 short, clear, and actionable.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKCd...
🧪 Reddit user u/what_to_do_what_to_ asks:
Is there any way to remove microplastics from the environment?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/10/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
Thank you for your support!
Thank you, that is very kind! My main goal is always to share free information that will help people stay safe and healthy. I'm fortunate to be able to live off of savings for a while as I look for work. I care much more about my work helping people than I do about making a living from Youtube.
🧪 Are microplastics killing us?
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=WcMZ...
🧪 Reddit user u/PollardPie asks:
Is it safe to store food in plastic deli containers?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/10/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
The risk of plastics shouldn't be ignored, and the problem certainly needs to be addressed. I've devoted my career to helping contribute to this cause. Living in constant stress and fear carries risk too though, so I feel it's important to put the scale of these risks in perspective.
Yes, but the scale of the risk is unclear today beyond that it is more than zero and less than smoking. Same for the endocrine disruption, meat and soybeans also contain natural endocrine disruptors, but we can't tell today whether plastic is any better or worse than endocrine disrupting foods.
Great question! That is accurate for heating, but not for cooling. All materials shed more microparticles when hot. For example, think of how hot tomato sauce will stain a tupperware, but cold tomato sauce won't. That leaching goes both ways. I only heat up my food in glass or ceramic, same as you.
🧪 Reddit user u/PollardPie asks:
Is it safe to store food in plastic deli containers?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/10/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
I'm a sustainability scientist and I've been having trouble finding steady work since Trump got elected. Last night my friend told me:
"You should pivot from working on Green Energy to working on White Power."
I hate how funny that is...
🧪 Is tap water safe?
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 short, clear, and actionable.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNRO...
🧪 Reddit user u/headgyheart asks:
What effect does PFAS have on our bodies and our environment?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/06/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
🧪So many of the questions I receive pick at the edges of the much more fundamental question of "What are fossil fuels? Why do we use them? Can they be replaced?"
So this week I answer the question in plain English:
What even is crude oil?
environment.samellman.org/2025/10/what...
🧪 Can plastic recycling be improved?
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=IEul...
🧪 Reddit user u/ElementreeCr0 asks:
Should I be worried sticky adhesive residue on baby toys?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
🧪 Will microplastics ever break down?
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=gEz_...
I believe it, it's always difficult to go against the grain. Thank you for putting in that extra effort! Especially as a seller, your work really does make a difference!
🧪 Reddit user u/ElementreeCr0 asks:
Should I be worried about the smell of "offgassing" plastic?
Answer:
environment.samellman.org/2025/04/envi...
If you have a question for me about chemistry or the environment, just ask!
🧪 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.