Distillations | Science History Institute

Latest Episodes:

Episode 118: Placebos Apr 01, 2011

Show notes

This week, we celebrate April Fools' Day with a little medical trickery. First, we learn about Franz Mesmer's questionable 18th-century cures. Next we hear how fooling the brain is sometimes the only way to get accurate scientific results.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:08 Mesmerism

05:06 Modern Placebos: A Necessary Hoax?

10:27 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Michal Meyer and Josh Kurz for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 117: Women's History Month Mar 18, 2011

Show notes

TIn this episode we learn about lesser-known women in the sciences. We start with Dorothy Hodgkin, the third woman to win a Nobel Prize in chemistry, and end with a tour spotlighting important females whose stories are told in CHF's museum.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:54 Dorothy Hodgkin

03:49 CHF Museum Tour

11:23 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio, Gigi Naglak, and Anne Fredrickson for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 116: Crime Fighters Mar 03, 2011

Show notes

From primetime to print, forensic scientists are usually depicted as courtroom heroes, but their real-life work makes for more than a thrilling story. On today's episode we look at how one such scientist sealed the fate of Palmer the Poisoner in the 19th century. Then we speak with forensic scientist Mike Eyring, whose team helped solve the biggest serial murder case in U.S. history.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:17 Palmer the Poisoner

04:59 Interview with Michael Eyring

13:59 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to James Voelkel, Peter O'Dowd, and Esther D'Amico for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 115: Black History Month Feb 18, 2011

Show notes

In honor of Black History Month, we reveal the lesser known accomplishments of George Washington Carver, and also pull from our oral history collection the stories of two African-American women fighting to make their way in the chemistry field.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

00:57 George Washington Carver

04:01 Oral History: Reatha Clark King and Linda Meade-Tollin

13:59 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks toHilary Domush and Sarah Hunter for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 114: Elements of Expression Feb 04, 2011

Show notes

In this episode we learn about how the mass production of oil paints spawned a new artistic movement and get a tour of artist Dove Bradshaw's studio.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:43 The Evolution of Oil Paints

04:21 Interview with Dove Bradshaw

11:27Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio and Ashley Milne-Tyne for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 113: Burning Rubber Jan 21, 2011

Show notes

Rubber has played a shockingly dramatic role in our political and military history. In today's episode we revisit the consequences of the natural rubber shortage during WWII, and how a similar shortage might affect us today.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:00 Natural vs. Synthetic Rubber

04:12 Interview with Mark Finlay

12:03 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio, Sarah Hunter, and Hilary Domush for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 112: Nuclear Power Jan 07, 2011

Show notes

On this episode we learn about the history and future of nuclear power, in the U.S. and abroad.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:08 History of the Nuclear Power Industry

04:13 Interview with Keith Moser

10:38 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 111: A Distillations Carol Dec 24, 2010

Show notes

On this episode we are visited by the ghosts of chemistry's past, present, and future, who teach us about Greek fire, red sludge, and the future of the sun.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:30 Introduction

00:44 Greek Fire

03:14 Hungarian Red Sludge

09:46 Death of the Sun

13:13 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Stefan Bos, Michal Meyer, and Dana Ricci for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 110: Essential Elements - Air Dec 10, 2010

Show notes

This week we continue our four-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about air and how the gases in it have been changing ever since Day 1.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:11 A Brief History of Air

05:14 Breathing Toxic Soup

12:45 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Bob Kenworthy and Jim Burress for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 109: East Meets West Nov 26, 2010

Show notes

On today's show we look at the Western perspective of Eastern medicine. First yogic breathing; then acupuncture.

SHOW CLOCK