Distillations | Science History Institute

Latest Episodes:

Celebrate 100 Episodes of Distillations Jul 27, 2010

Show notes

Episode 99: Summer BBQ Jul 16, 2010

Show notes

Halfway through July, we are just about in the middle of summer. So we thought it would be appropriate to talk about meat and barbecuing in this week’s episode of Distillations.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:01 Chemical Agent: Papain

03:51 Conversation with Roger Horowitz

09:17 Carcinogens and Grilled Meat

11:22 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Victoria Indivero, Michal Meyer, and James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 98: Climate Engineering Jul 02, 2010

Show notes

As atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, does the world have to get hotter? Controlling the earth’s weather and climate is this week’s topic.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:26 Introduction

01:11 Chemical Agent: Silver Iodide

03:02 Interview: James R. Fleming on Climate Engineering

07:47 Storing Carbon with Phytoplankton

11:19 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 97: Immortality Jun 18, 2010

Show notes

If you could live forever, would you? Though most believe this to be a hypothetical question, there are some scientific processes that impart eternal life, or something like that, to actual creatures on earth.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:10 Chemical Agent: Animal Antifreeze

03:25 Feature: Immortal Jellyfish

07:03 Comte de Saint-Germain

10:24 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Aries Keck, James Voelkel and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

A Summer Brew for You Jun 11, 2010

Show notes

Episode 96: Infamous Science Jun 04, 2010

Show notes

Innovation can be messy work, and sometimes outright disastrous. This week on Distillations we’re looking at some of the 20th century’s most infamous scientific missteps.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:12 Chemical Agent: Thalidomide

03:35 Conversation with Professor Judith Walzer Leavitt

08:18 Cold Fusion

11:10 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 95: Cleaning Up -- Retro Edition May 21, 2010

Show notes

This week we’re digging into our archives and looking back at one of our first episodes of Distillations.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:59 Commentary: Trash Island

03:21 Element of the Week: Mercury

05:11 Cleaning Up Oil Spills

09:36 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 94: Scientific Visions May 07, 2010

Show notes

The future is now. Distillations, therefore, is pausing to compare what people once predicted the modern world would look like to the actual reality on the ground—and in the air.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:16 Chemical Agent: Magic Bullet

03:02 Feature: Fembots

08:37 Space Colonization

11:44 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Aries Keck, Jennifer Dionisio, Hilary Domush, and Mia Lobel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 93: Kids' Science Apr 23, 2010

Show notes

In honor of National Lab Day in May this episode focuses on the scientist in every kid.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:54 Chemical Agent: Bangsite

02:32 Feature: Kids Doing Science

06:51 Boy Rocketeer

12:15 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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