Distillations | Science History Institute

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Chemistry
**Distillations | Science History Institute**

Distillations is the Science History Institute’s critically acclaimed flagship podcast. We take deep dives into stories that range from the serious to the eccentric, all to help listeners better understand the surprising science that is all around us. Hear about everything from the crisis in Alzheimer’s research to New England’s 19th-century vampire panic in compelling, sometimes-funny, documentary-style audio stories.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 81: Light Nov 06, 2009

Show notes

Let there be light! Whether it comes from the sky or a bulb, we’d be lost without it.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:01 Chemical Agent: Organic Solar Cells

03:54 Mystery Solved! Seasonal Affective Disorder

06:42 Feature: The History of Lightbulbs

11:21 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 80: Autumn Oct 23, 2009

Show notes

Autumn! Learn about leaf changes, the three sisters, and apple cider. Chemical Agent: Senescence.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:07 Chemical Agent: Senescence

03:43 Tools of the Trade: The Three Sisters

06:27 Feature: Apple Cider

10:52 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 79: Changing Phases Oct 09, 2009

Show notes

Everything falls into one of three phases of matter: solid, liquid, or gas. Or does it?

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:11 Chemical Agent: Dry Ice

03:34 A Conversation with Michal Meyer

08:11 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Glass

11:04 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 78: Public Science Sep 25, 2009

Show notes

Science isn’t some exalted ideal confined to labs and classrooms—it’s all around us. In this episode we share different ways that scientists have reached out to educate and enlighten the masses.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

01:00 Chemical Agent: Glenn Seaborg

03:43 Tools of the Trade: The Air Pump

06:07 Feature: Science in the City

11:08 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Andy Mangravite and Erin McLeary for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 77: Innovations and Inventions Sep 11, 2009

Show notes

Every year the Chemical Heritage Foundation holds Innovation Day—an event for people to get together to discuss and learn about science’s exciting new technologies. In this episode we take a look at innovations—the natural kind and the man-made kind.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:13 Chemical Agent: Thermoregulation

03:34 Tools of the Trade: GoreTex Stents

06:25 A Conversation with Richard Silverman

11:22 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 76: Working Class Chemistry Aug 28, 2009

Show notes

In honor of Labor Day this episode of Distillations looks at how chemistry has affected the work of a variety of professionals—for better or worse.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:59 Chemical Agent: Polybenzimidazole

02:58 History Lesson: Origins of Occupational Health

06:01 Feature: The Chemistry of Welding

10:40 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Mia Lobel, Andy Mangravite and Jody Roberts for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 75: Best of Distillations #4 Aug 14, 2009

Show notes

Distillations is sharing more of our favorite episodes this week: free radicals, art forgery, and snoring.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:31 Introduction

00:48 Chemical Agent: Free Radicals

02:42 Feature: Detecting Forgery in Art

07:35 Mystery Solved! Snoring

10:51 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 74: Best of Distillations #3 Jul 31, 2009

Show notes

It’s almost the end of the summer; so the Distillations crew is taking a look back at some of our favorite episodes this week: panspermia, umami, and pheromone perfumes.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:40 Introduction

00:59 Chemical Agent: Panspermia

03:04 Mystery Solved! Umami

07:14 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Pheromone Perfumes

09:59 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Aries Keck, Audra Wolfe, and Jen Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Episode 73: Brave New Worlds Jul 17, 2009

Show notes

Birth, once nature's miracle, is increasingly manipulated by humans and regulated by society. In this week’s episode we look at a range of reproductive technologies and the implications of their use. Chemical Agent: Luteinizing Hormone.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:30 Introduction

01:16 Chemical Agent: Luteinizing Hormone

03:54 Conversation with Joanna Radin

09:01 Review: Reproduction in Dystopian Novels

11:39 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

Episode 72: Space and Place Jul 03, 2009

Show notes

Location, location, location! In this week’s episode we talk about why and how certain spaces are chosen and used. Chemical Agent: Bromine.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:32 Introduction

01:07 Chemical Agent: Bromine

03:13 Mystery Solved! Brownfields

06:31 Conversation with Jim Hutchison

11:16 Closing Credits

CREDITS

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

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