The Grip of Reality: Why Masking Tape Can’t Make Up Its Mind

​In this episode, Craig Chapman tackles the fickle world of pressure-sensitive adhesives. Why does one piece of masking tape fall off a jar of lentils immediately, while another becomes a permanent part of a cardboard box for fourteen years? We dive deep into the science of "tack," the liquid-solid mystery of viscoelasticity, and why the "crepe" in crepe paper is the secret to navigating life's curves. Plus, Craig examines a standard AA battery in What Do I Have Here? and addresses some truly random listener queries about warm TV remotes and "screaming" tape in The Listeners Corner.

​It’s a slow, steady look at the sticky situations we usually ignore.

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