The Chemistry of Poison Ivy

Leaves of three, let them be, right? But what happens when you get covered in poison ivy and can’t stop scratching? Jennifer Novotney, winner of the 2014 Chemistry Champions science communications competition, breaks down what it is about that dreaded vine that makes us so itchy and cooks up a remedy for the poison ivy’s itch using the power of chemistry.

Season 2 Episode 12 Length 03:23 Premiere: 03/09/15

Recent Episodes

They Changed Coke and Didn't Tell Anyone

S12 E1 Length 14:19 Premiere Date 02/02/26

Making Citric Acid at Home is Easy (EMOTIONAL DAMAGE)

S11 E13 Length 16:29 Premiere Date 12/31/25

I Used DNA to Fireproof Fabrics

S11 E12 Length 08:34 Premiere Date 12/04/25

Didn't Believe There Were Microplastics in Gum So I Tested My Spit

S11 E11 Length 15:15 Premiere Date 10/22/25

Is Water Magnetic?

S11 E10 Length 08:46 Premiere Date 09/17/25

Liquid Marbles are the Coolest Scientific Breakthrough I've Made (So Far)

S11 E9 Length 11:15 Premiere Date 08/06/25

Specials

Yule Log Chemistry Trivia - 4 Hours of Cozy Fireplace

Length 4:11:33 Premiere Date 12/19/19

Football Helmets: The Last Line of Defense?

Length 03:35 Premiere Date 11/21/19

The Chemistry of Fireworks

Length 06:07 Premiere Date 07/01/19

How to Fry a Thanksgiving Turkey Without Burning Your House

Length 02:57 Premiere Date 11/21/16

Season 2 Episodes

Show Episodes

Show Clips & Previews

Shedding Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder

S2 E60 Length 03:48 Premiere Date 12/22/15

Nerding out on Star Wars Science

S2 E59 Length 04:22 Premiere Date 12/14/22

How to Sharpen Your Knife Without a Sharpener

S2 E58 Length 01:37 Premiere Date 12/07/15

How to Tell if Your Oven is a Liar - Chemistry Life Hacks

S2 E57 Length 01:55 Premiere Date 12/07/15

How to Save Smelly Wine - Chemistry Life Hacks

S2 E56 Length 01:56 Premiere Date 12/07/15

Why Do Hot Peppers Cause Pain?

S2 E55 Length 04:27 Premiere Date 12/01/15

What is the Future of Fake Meat?

S2 E54 Length 03:43 Premiere Date 11/23/15

Do Vitamin Supplements Really Work?

S2 E53 Length 04:48 Premiere Date 11/16/15

How to Survive a Real-Life "Fallout"

S2 E52 Length 04:07 Premiere Date 11/10/15

The Science of the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

S2 E51 Length 03:15 Premiere Date 11/03/15

What Happens When You're About to Die?

S2 E50 Length 03:26 Premiere Date 10/26/15

What is the Blackest Black?

S2 E49 Length 03:22 Premiere Date 10/19/15

The World's Smallest Robots: Rise of the Nanomachines

S2 E48 Length 04:46 Premiere Date 10/13/15

How Pee Brought You The Modern World

S2 E47 Length 03:43 Premiere Date 10/05/15

How to Cookie with Science

S2 E46 Length 04:02 Premiere Date 09/28/15

How Do Deodorants and Antiperspirants Work?

S2 E45 Length 02:55 Premiere Date 09/21/15

What is Addiction?

S2 E44 Length 03:28 Premiere Date 09/15/15

Football Helmets: The Last Line of Defense?

S2 E43 Length 03:35 Premiere Date 09/08/15

What is a Complete Breakfast?

S2 E42 Length 03:57 Premiere Date 08/31/15

How to Stay Awake Without Caffeine

S2 E41 Length 03:15 Premiere Date 08/24/15

Does Febreze Really Work?

S2 E40 Length 03:04 Premiere Date 08/17/15

Why Does Coffee Make You Poop?

S2 E39 Length 02:27 Premiere Date 08/10/15

Can Radiation Give You Superpowers?

S2 E38 Length 04:35 Premiere Date 08/04/15

Why are Tattoos Permanent?

S2 E37 Length 03:54 Premiere Date 07/28/15

Are Invisibility Cloaks Possible?

S2 E36 Length 04:00 Premiere Date 07/23/15

The Chemistry of Wine

S2 E35 Length 03:39 Premiere Date 07/20/15

Why Do Feet Smell?

S2 E34 Length 02:34 Premiere Date 07/13/15

Why This Town Has Been On Fire For 50 Years

S2 E33 Length 03:50 Premiere Date 07/07/15

Better Grilling Through Chemistry

S2 E32 Length 02:40 Premiere Date 06/29/15

This Is Your Brain on Music

S2 E31 Length 03:41 Premiere Date 06/23/15

Is Aspartame Safe?

S2 E30 Length 03:46 Premiere Date 06/15/15

Hormones and Gender Transition

S2 E29 Length 03:08 Premiere Date 06/08/15

Why Do Wet Dogs Stink? + Other Canine Chemistry

S2 E28 Length 03:03 Premiere Date 06/01/15

Are Frozen Veggies Less Healthy?

S2 E27 Length 01:16 Premiere Date 05/25/15

Another Reason To Drink (In Moderation)

S2 E26 Length 01:15 Premiere Date 05/25/15

Yellowstone Steaming Acid Pools of Death

S2 E25 Length 03:05 Premiere Date 09/10/18

No, Your Microwave Isn't Trying to Kill You

S2 E25 Length 02:15 Premiere Date 05/18/15

Why New York Has the Best Bagels

S2 E24 Length 03:12 Premiere Date 05/18/15

How Does Adderall™ Work?

S2 E23 Length 02:47 Premiere Date 05/11/15

The Science of Avocados

S2 E22 Length 02:49 Premiere Date 05/04/15

The Science of the Avengers

S2 E21 Length 03:58 Premiere Date 04/28/15

The Dawn of Chemical Warfare

S2 E20 Length 05:25 Premiere Date 04/20/15

DIY Cleaning Hacks (CLH Vol. 6)

S2 E19 Length 02:53 Premiere Date 04/13/15

How Can You See an Atom?

S2 E18 Length 05:35 Premiere Date 04/09/15

Game of Thrones Science: Sword Making and Valyrian Steel

S2 E17 Length 03:33 Premiere Date 04/06/15

Why Too Much Stress Is Bad For You

S2 E16 Length 02:51 Premiere Date 04/02/15

Chemistry Jokes! (Round 2)

S2 E15 Length 01:55 Premiere Date 03/30/15

The Difference Between Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup

S2 E14 Length 02:41 Premiere Date 03/23/15

Craft Beer Chemistry

S2 E13 Length 03:06 Premiere Date 03/16/15