Distillations | Science History Institute

Latest Episodes:

Episode 108: Essential Elements - Fire Nov 12, 2010

Show notes

This week we continue our four-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about fire and how humans have tried to protect themselves from it.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:12 Flame Retardants

03:54 Third Degree Burns

12:36 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Anna Boiko-Weyrauch and Victoria Indivero for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 107: Medical Gross Out Oct 29, 2010

Show notes

Today’s show will have your skin crawling… literally. In honor of Halloween we bring you a show revealing a scarier (and squirmier) side of science.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:27 Introduction

00:54 Forensic Anthropology

04:06 A Conversation with Robert Hicks and His Leeches

11:47 Maggots

14:39 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Margaret E. Wood and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 106: Essential Elements – Water Oct 22, 2010

Show notes

This week we continue our 4-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about water and the many ways to ensure it is potable.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:28 Portable Water Purification

05:24 Desalination Plant on the River Thames

14:01 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Elemental Memoir Lesson Plan Oct 14, 2010

Show notes

Episode 105: Periodic Table Contents Oct 08, 2010

Show notes

In this week’s episode we pay tribute to the periodic table. We talk to Sam Kean, author of the best-selling book The Disappearing Spoon and hear an excerpt from Primo Levi’s book The Periodic Table.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:21 Interview with Sam Kean

09:28 "Carbon," from The Periodic Table by Primo Levi

12:57 Competition - Elemental Memoir

13:31 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 104: Essential Elements – Earth Sep 24, 2010

Show notes

This week we begin our four-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about earth and the Marcellus Shale.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:40 The Geologic History of the Marcellus Shale

06:04 The Marcellus Shale Today

13:31 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 103: Herbal Remedy Sep 10, 2010

Show notes

Before pharmaceuticals existed, all medicines had to come from natural sources—like plants. On this week’s show we focus on such remedies.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:24 Digitalis, aka Foxglove

03:45 Visiting Lancaster Farmacy

12:42 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 102: Best of Distillations #6 Aug 27, 2010

Show notes

We continue to bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: Senescence, Richard Holmes, and Boy Rocketeer.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:57 Chemical Agent: Senescence

03:32 A Conversation with Richard Holmes

07:53 Boy Rocketeer

13:34 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Hilary Domush, Michael Meyer, and James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 101: Best of Distillations #5 Aug 13, 2010

Show notes

This month Distillations takes a step back to bring you some of our favorite segments from past episodes: Glenn Seaborg, the Three Sisters, and Living with Illness.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:57 Chemical Agent: Glenn Seaborg

03:30 Tools of the Trade: The Three Sisters

06:22 Living with Ilness

11:39 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio, Andy Mangravite, and Erica Stefanovich for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 100: Birthday Episode Jul 30, 2010

Show notes

Distillations marks its 100th episode this week! To celebrate, we revisit segments from some of our past shows and bring you new developments on electric car batteries, hair mats cleaning up oil spills, and the Obama administration's environmental policies post-election.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:31 Update: The Electric Car

03:49 Update: Cleaning Up Oil Spills

09:27 Update: A Planet in Peril

13:00 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Devin Browne, Jody Roberts, and Erica Stefanovich for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

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