Ever wondered how a mosquito stands on a pond like a biblical figure? Or how a gecko defies gravity on a pane of glass without using a single drop of glue? Hint: It’s not suction—it’s pure physics.

In this episode of Truly BioChemical, we’re stripping back the biology to look at the invisible forces that hold the world together—literally. We compare the incredible strength of water's "skin" against the weak-but-mighty forces allowing lizards to walk on ceilings.

We move beyond the A-Level textbook to ask: How can a steel needle float on water? And why is a gecko’s foot basically a masterpiece of surface area engineering?

In this episode:

• The Mosquito & Surface Tension: Deep diving into the Hydrogen Bonds that create a "skin" on water strong enough to support an insect’s weight.
• Molecular Polarity: We discuss dipoles, partial charges, and why water is "stickier" than it looks.
• Gecko Physics: A crucial look at Van der Waals Forces (specifically London Dispersion Forces).
• Spatulae & Adhesion: How millions of microscopic hairs create enough friction to hold a lizard upside down using only intermolecular attraction.
• Forces Compared: Breaking down why surface tension relies on strong H-bonds, while geckos rely on maximizing weak forces over a massive surface area.

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No mosquitoes were harmed in the making of this episode.

"Do you even lift, bro?" And if you do, why does your kit bag smell like ammonia?

In Episode 3 of Truly Biochemical, we are tackling the biggest industry in fitness: Protein. We’re stripping away the marketing hype on the granola box to look at the cold, hard stoichiometry of muscle growth.

We explore why the human body treats protein differently than carbs or fats—specifically, why we can't store it, and what happens when you overdose on chicken breast.

In this episode:

• The Lego Analogy: Understanding Amino Acid structure—from the amine group to the variable "R" group—and how peptide bonds actually form.

• The Urea Cycle: The toxic truth about Deamination. We explain the biochemistry of why eating too much protein makes you excrete nitrogen (and why that makes gym changing rooms smell like sweat and wee).

• The Limiting Factor: Why your cellular machinery, not your diet, dictates muscle growth.

• Essential vs. Non-Essential: What your body can synthesize and what it needs to source.

Key Terms: Amino Acids, Deamination, Urea Cycle, Nitrogen Balance, Protein Synthesis, Biological Molecules.

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Can an island be made of sky? And why does a jar of M&Ms explain how species survive?

In Episode 2 of Truly Biochemical, we leave the lab for the Galapagos (and the Andes) to explore the engines of evolutionary change. We aren't just talking about Darwin's tortoises—we're debating the mechanics of isolation, accidental survival, and why "Vertical Islands" create some of the weirdest biodiversity on Earth.

In this episode:

• The Founder Effect: Using M&Ms to explain Genetic Drift and Bottlenecks—why small populations essentially play a genetic lottery.

• Real-Time Evolution: The Grants' famous study on Daphne Major—how a single drought provided the "natural experiment" to prove Natural Selection happens faster than you think.

• Vertical Islands: How altitude creates "Sky Islands" that trap species just as effectively as the ocean (and why frogs get stuck while Spectacled Bears don't).

• Reproductive Isolation: When songs change, mating stops—the invisible barrier to Speciation.

Key Terms: Allopatric Speciation, Genetic Drift vs. Natural Selection, Adaptive Radiation, The Founder Effect.

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We all know Carbon Dioxide is warming the planet—but can you explain why? (Hint: It’s all in the wobble).

In the very first episode of Truly Biochemical, we spin the wheel and land on CO2​. We’re stripping back the headlines to explore the molecular geometry that defines both our climate and our physiology.

We move beyond the GCSE textbook to ask: Why does this specific arrangement of three atoms trap heat when Oxygen and Nitrogen don't? And why is "Dry Ice" on a stage actually wetter than you think?

In this episode:

• The Greenhouse Mechanism: Deep diving into bond vibrations, dipoles, and how specific frequencies of Infrared Radiation are absorbed by the atmosphere.

• The Bohr Shift: A crucial concept for A-Level Biology—how CO2​ changes the acidity of your blood to force Hemoglobin to release its oxygen exactly where you need it.

• Chemical Misconceptions: Sublimation, non-metal oxides, and why your "fog" machine is actually making rain.

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Errata: “to be in the limelight” was not calcium oxide with water, but heating calcium oxide to high temperatures, which then glowed.

The textbooks give you the "what," but they rarely give you the "why"—and they almost never give you the "weird."

Welcome to TBC - Truly BioChemical. This isn't a revision session, and we aren't following a mark scheme. We’re going beyond the boundaries of GCSE, IGCSE, and A-Level Biology and Chemistry specifications to explore the complex, beautiful, and often bizarre molecular machinery that actually runs your life.

If you’ve ever felt that the school syllabus stops just as things are getting interesting, this is for you. From metabolic pathways and bioenergetics to the biochemical limits of human performance, we’re diving into the concepts that examiners don’t have time for. Whether you are aiming for Medicine, Veterinary Science, or Bioengineering at University, or you're just a science enthusiast looking for a deeper perspective, TBC is your weekly super-curricular edge.

Expect:

Metabolism & Physiology: The high-level science of health and habits.

Super-Curricular Insights: Concepts designed for the genuinely curious mind.

Commute-Sized Science: Perfect for the coach ride home.

Launch Schedule:

Tuesday, Jan 27 2026.

New episodes weekly on Tuesdays.