Why do irons have to be hot to de-wrinkle things?

Uh oh, your favorite shirt is all wrinkly – and it’s Picture Day! Not to worry, your handy dandy household iron can smooth out all those wrinkles using heat. But why does an iron have to be so hot?  We asked chemist Mark Lorch to help us find the answer.

Uh oh, your favorite shirt is all wrinkly – and it’s Picture Day! Not to worry, your handy dandy household iron can smooth out all those wrinkles using heat. But why does an iron have to be so hot?  We asked chemist Mark Lorch to help us find the answer.
Got a question that’s wrinkling your brow? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help iron out the answer!

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Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best.


Smash Boom Best

A history show for the whole family! Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more — while teaching listeners to think critically about history.


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Our mission is to encourage kids’ and curious adults’ natural curiosity and wonder using science and history…but there’s no age limit on curiosity, and episodes of Brains On can be enjoyed by anyone.


Why do irons have to be hot to de-wrinkle things?

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