Distillations | Science History Institute

On today's show we learn how advances in urban agriculture are providing new access to fresh food. First how hundreds of tons of fishbones are cleaning up Oakland soil. Then tips on how to create your own backyard garden. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:30 Introduction 01:23 Fishbone Remediation 10:24 Interview: Alex Jones and Alice Edgerton 17:48 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Charlie Mintz, Alex Jones, Alice Edgerton, and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show we see old bones made new again. First the ongoing restoration of Philadelphia's 19th Street Baptist Church. Then a discussion about what makes some old buildings greener than new ones. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:28 Introduction 01:20 The 19th Street Baptist Church 09:31 Interview: Heather Blakeslee 16:35 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Alex Lewis, Heather Blakeslee, and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show chemistry takes center stage. First, why science and comedy make gut-busting bedfellows. Then the history of science as popular entertainment. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:36 Introduction 01:20 Science Comedy 08:51 Interview: Rebecca Onion 20:43 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Deanna Day, Rebecca Onion, and Daisy Rosario for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

During decades of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union over the course of the Cold War, both sides wielded science as a weapon. Find out how on today's show. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:31 Interview (Part I): Audra Wolfe 05:41 Oral History: Leslie Vadasz 10:36 Interview (Part II): Audra Wolfe 14:34 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Hilary Domush, Mat Savelli, and Audra Wolfe for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Just in time for Valentine's Day we explore the sexier side of alchemy. Historian Joel Klein explains how alchemists used passionate prose to disguise the details of their secret experiments. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:44 Introduction 02:07 Interview: Joel Klein 13:28 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Joel Klein for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today your taste buds take center stage. First,how super-tasters' genetic gift might afford them better health. Then the art of imitation flavors. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:41 'A World of Pure Imagination' 01:23 Super-Tasters 08:04 The Art of Imitation Flavors 15:40 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Mary Harris and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show we peel back our skin. First, an innovative technology that could provide early detection of osteoporosis. Then, a look at stone man syndrome–a rare disease that causes the body's connective tissue to turn into bone when damaged. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:27 Introduction 01:09 Written In Your Bones? 09:43 Harry Eastlack 16:00 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Diane Hope and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We wrap up the three-part series A Day in the Life, spotlighting the common chemistry of morning, noon, and night. Today, how popular insomnia treatments work and the science behind our body's unique sleep cycles. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:35 Fight Club 01:01 Interview: Sleep Aids 05:33 The Midnight Sun 14:31 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Louisa Jonas, Mia Lobel, Jennifer Dionisio, and Joe Rucker for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We continue the three-part series A Day in the Life, spotlighting the common chemistry of morning, noon, and night. Today, a look at the mysterious ingredients in many kitchen staples and the reason why even so-called healthy sweeteners can be toxic. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:36 The Breakfast Club 01:18 Interview: Kitchen Staples 07:41 The Trouble With Fructose 14:27 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Gretchen Kuda Croen, Mia Lobel, Jennifer Dionisio, and Joe Rucker for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we begin the three-part series A Day in the Life, spotlighting the common chemistry of morning, noon, and night. First, a look at what's lurking in our bathroom products and what experts say about the controversy over fluoridated water. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:36 Pee-wee's Big Adventure 01:06 Interview: Bathroom Products 04:06 The Fluoridation Debate 13:05 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Mia Lobel, Joe Rucker, and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Treasure or toxin? Today we follow Teflon's rise from happy accident to indispensable tool at work, home, and even war. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:42 Introduction 01:24 The Origins of Teflon 08:46 Interview: Post-War Teflon 14:36 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Bob Kenworthy, Hilary Domush, Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie, and Amy Kraft for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we welcome back author Sam Kean to discuss the secrets and surprises contained in our DNA. He talks to Distillations’ executive producer Jennifer Dionisio. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:33 Interview: The Violinist’s Thumb 11:44 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show a special conversation between two alchemy experts: James Voelkel, who curated CHF's exhibit The Alchemical Quest, and Lawrence Principe, author of The Secrets of Alchemy. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:36 Introduction 01:40 Interview: The Alchemical Quest 13:20 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show we track the evolution of smog from symbol of industrial progress to public health catastrophe. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:39 Introduction 01:23 Interview: A Sign of Progress 05:08 Donora 14:16 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Daniel Tkacik, Ellis Robinson, and Jacqueline Boytim for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show we test your gag reflex. First an exploration of rank, funky cheeses made from your own body's bacteria. Then the history of how distaste evolved into disgust. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:50 Introduction 01:41 South By South Swab 11:40 Distaste and Disgust 14:45 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Lindsay Patterson and Jacqueline Boytim for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Ahoy, mateys. Join us on the ocean floor. On today's show we look at sunken ships: how they are preserved, and what they can tell us about civilizations from the past. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:50 Introduction 01:35 Wrecked! 10:10 Undersea Time Capsules 14:49 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Diane Hope, Michal Meyer, and Anne Fredrickson for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Good science takes time... or not? On today's show we explore the extremes. First the longest-running experiment in the world; then the near-instant chemical reaction that helps airbags protect you in a crash. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:50 Introduction 01:26 The Pitch-Drop Experiment 10:22 Airbags 15:05 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Michael Rhee and Stephanie Coleman for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: attempts to contact aliens in space and the secret behind the sweet sound of Stradivari violins. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:01 The Interstellar Rosetta Stone 08:02 Strad Secrets? 14:58 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Andrew Stelzer and Anne Fredrickson for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: animal communication in the Sonoran Desert and the toll of asbestos waste on a small Pennsylvanian town. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:15 Future of the Wild: Desert Communication 09:28 The Ambler Asbestos Waste Piles 14:21 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Diane Hope and Bob Kenworthy for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we wrap up the three-part series Blood, Sweat, and Tears. First how it feels to lose your ability to cry; then why onions bring on the waterworks. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:42 Introduction 01:33 Emotional Tears 09:35 Onion Tears 13:24 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Douglas Smith and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. A Distillations Explainer produced by Josh Kurz. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we continue the three-part series Blood, Sweat, and Tears. First the history of deodorants; then experiments on how perspiration might diagnose diseases like schizophrenia. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:43 Introduction 01:54 Antiperspirants 07:48 Sweat Diagnostics 15:40 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Gretchen Cuda-Kroen and Anne Fredrickson for researching this show. A Distillations Explainer produced by Josh Kurz. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we begin the three-part series Blood, Sweat, and Tears. First how one man solved the mystery of blood function; then how researchers will bust blood-doping athletes at the Olympic games. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:48 Introduction 02:10 Blood Puzzle 07:34 Blood Doping 19:19 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Hannah Hoag and James Voelkel for researching this show. A Distillations Explainer produced by Josh Kurz. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode we cross the Atlantic to learn what makes a perfect cuppa. Then we learn about the surprising health benefits of Marmite, a spreadable food item people love to hate. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:20 The Perfect Cuppa 09:40 Marmite 14:46 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Nina Perry and Rachel Dornhelm for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Big eyes, soft skin, squeezable cheeks. No doubt, babies are adorable. But on today's show we take a break from our cooing to examine some more serious aspects of parenthood. First how formula has waxed and waned in popularity. Then how embryos wreak havoc in the womb. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:26 Introduction 02:19 Breast vs. Bottle 05:47 Parasitic Babies 13:12 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Sabiha Kahn and Audrey Quinn for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose? We all know what that means: allergies. On today's show we look at pet dander, a common cause. Then we talk to a researcher dissecting the makeup of dust. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:26 Introduction 02:19 Allergen-Free Pets 05:47 Parasitic Babies 13:12 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Sarah Hunter-Lacoskie and Gretchen Kuda-Croen for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Asbestos, once a miracle product, is now a plague on the aging infrastructure to which it's bound. Today we explore a Pennsylvania town where a wide swath of asbestos-contaminated land stands capped and unusable. Then we visit a historic high school that is now dormant due to the expense of asbestos remediation. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:53 The Ambler Asbestos Waste Piles 05:33 Schenley High School 13:22 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Bob Kenworthy and Larkin Page-Jacons for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode we look at the diverse history of mass spectrometry, starting with a single question: exactly what is it? Then we dip into our oral history collection to show the breadth of mass spec's reach, including the Manhattan Project. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:33 Introduction 01:12 What is Mass Spec? 04:22 Oral History: Alfred Nier 12:18 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie and Mia Lobel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode we travel back in time to the Victorian era, when innovative teachers used fairies to convey complicated ideas in chemistry. We adapted one of these whimsical lessons into Distillations' first-ever podcast play. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:35 Introduction 01:11Fairies and Victorian Science 03:41 Podcast Play: The Fairyland of Chemistry 09:22 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Megan Slater, Gigi Naglak, and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode we look at the real and imagined implications of genetic modification in the middle of the 20th century. First, the early promise of plant modification. Then how this science inspired classic sci-fi films. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:42Interview with Helen Curry 09:48 Hollywood and the Atomic Age 13:40 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Andy Mangravite and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode we look at how environments recover after natural and manmade disasters. First, we hear about how ecosystems repair themselves after hurricanes. Then we see how the Gulf of Mexico is faring after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:18 Ecological Succession 04:13 Interview with Helen White 12:56 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jeff Guin and Bob Kenworthy for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Pucker up! On today's episode we investigate the kiss. First, what's in the saliva we share with each other? Then we interview Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing, to find out why our ancestors starting locking lips in the first place. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:29 Saliva 04:33 Interview with Sheril Kirschenbaum 12:03 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode of Distillations we're gearing up for this weekend's playoff games with a look at the science of sports. First, we learn how athletes go the distance. Then we look into the brain of a fan. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:30 Introduction 01:00 An Athlete's Chemistry 07:31 The Science of Watching Sports 10:57 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Lindsay Patterson, Mia Lobel, and Ryan Carty for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode of Distillations we go straight to the source ... your DNA. First, we learn how technological advances are putting the dream of a $1,000 genome within reach. Then we discuss the implications of having genetic information at our fingertips. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:36 The $1,000 Genome 04:56 Interview with Michael Christman 12:57 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Cheers! On today's episode of Distillations we belly up to the bar to learn about distilled spirits. Then we look ahead to the next morning to determine if our tried-and-true hangover cures have any scientific merit. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:30 Introduction 01:06 Tour of St. George Spirits 09:06 Hangover Science 12:47 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Catherine Girardeau and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's episode of Distillations we investigate if there's science behind the sweet sounds of a Stradivari violin and learn how chemistry influences the work of sound artist Susan Alexjander. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:33 Introduction 01:18 Strad Secrets? 08:13 Interview with Susan Alexjander 16:41 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Anne Fredrickson and Mia Lobel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Step away from the sale rack! On today's episode of Distillations we examine your brain under the influence of shopping, as well as a potential health hazard found in receipts. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:17 Your Brain on Shopping 07:32 BPA in Receipts 11:02 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Sheri Quinn and Lindsay Patterson for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

How did we get here and who else is out there? These questions have nagged at humans for centuries. On today's episode of Distillations we explore early debate over the Big Bang Theory and find out what tools researchers are using to greet aliens. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:33 Introduction 01:19 Debating the Big Bang Theory 03:48 The Interstellar Rosetta Stone 11:35 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Andrew Stelzer and James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Trick or treat! On today's episode of Distillations we give you a taste of both. First, try to choke back our explanation of a Dutch candy that features ammonium chloride and carbon black. Then follow producer Mia Lobel on a tour of the Culinary Institute of America's candy kitchen. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:34 Introduction 01:39 Salt Licorice 05:29 Making Candy Corn at the CIA 12:46 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Mia Lobel and Ryan Carty for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today's show explores two very different ways people hope to protect future harvests. First, follow us to the Doomsday Vault, which protects 700,000 seed families. Next, join farmer Miguel Santistevan as he revives his ancestors' agricultural practices. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:18 Doomsday Vault 05:12 Desert Harvest 11:37 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Sabiha Kahn, Bob kenworthy, and Mia Lobel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today's show goes back in time to try to pinpoint what exactly the dinosaurs were like. First, we reveal evidence that the oldest known bird might actually be a dinosaur. Then we follow a researcher attempting to reclassify many familiar dinosaurs. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:33 Introduction 01:36 Dinosaur Feathers 04:26 Dinosaur Sinking 11:04 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Lindsay Patterson, Andy Mangravite, and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we wrap up the four-part series: Our Chemical Landscape. These shows look at how science has shaped the city, the suburb, the farm, and the wild. This episode is about the wild, and how its species-in-residence use chemistry to communicate.. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:32 History of the Wild: Lightening Bugs 04:26 Future of the Wild: Desert Communication 11:04 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Diane Hope, Hilary Domush, and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today's show explores one of our favorite senses: taste. First, revist the tongue map you may have studied as a kid. Next, learn how a natural sweetener might benefit waistlines—and even the world. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:11 The Tongue Map Myth 05:02 Stevia: Sweeter than Sugar 12:17 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Audrey Quinn and Andrew Stelzer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we continue the four-part series: Our Chemical Landscape. These shows look at how science has shaped the city, the suburb, the farm, and the wild. This episode is about the farm, and how crop production has evolved in response to exploding global population growth. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:49 History of the Farm: Guano 06:11 Future of the Farm: Genetically Modified Crops 14:43 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Julia Botero and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: mesmerism, the impacts of climate change, and why its chic to be a geek.. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 00:44 Mesmerism 04:30 Extreme Effects: Chad and Bangladesh 08:42 Upping STEM's Cool Factor 14:21 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Michal Meyer, Jennifer Dionisio, and Esther D'Amico for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: Palmer the Poisoner, medicinal maggots, and the placebo effect. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 00:49 Palmer the Poisoner 04:15 Maggots 07:09 Modern Placebos: A Necessary Hoax? 12:31 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jim Voelkel, Margaret E. Wood, and Josh Kurz for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today the Distillations team delves into the weird and wonderful world of its favorite barnyard animal: the cow. First find out why so few populations are lactose tolerant. Then take a literal peek inside the body of one of these creatures. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:41 Introduction 01:31 Lactose Intolerance 05:40 Porthole Cows 12:50 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Zoe Sullivan and Sarah Hunter for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today we continue the four-part series: Our Chemical Landscape. These shows look at how science has shaped the city, the suburb, the farm, and the wild. This episode is about the suburb, and how its residents' transportation needs have evolved in the past century. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 01:00 Introduction 02:10 History of the Suburb: Electric Cars 05:54 Future of the Suburb: Mass Transit in Austin, TX 13:50 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Lindsay Patterson and Anne Fredrickson for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today Distillations welcomes guest producer Ari Daniel Shapiro, host of the podcast Ocean Gazing, who takes us on a tour of the ocean, revealing how optics can evaluate long-term changes in the oceanic environment and the effects of carbon dioxide on coral reefs. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:40 Introduction 01:22 CO2 vs. Coral Reefs 07:16 Using Optics on Oceans 11:50 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Ari Daniel Shapiro for guest producing this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

In honor of the International Year of Chemistry, today we begin the four-part series Our Chemical Landscape. These shows look at how science has shaped the city, the suburbs, the farm, and the wild. Today's episode is about the city, and the role of energy in shaping its past and future. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:40 History of the City: Gas Lighting 06:04 Future of the City: Energy Efficiency 16:16 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Kimberly Haas and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today's show wonders if it's becoming chic to be a geek. First, we see how pop culture portrayals of scientists have boosted their reputations with teenagers. Next, we look at the state of science education in the U.S. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 00:57 Upping STEM's Cool Factor 06:58 Science Education in the U.S. 10:51 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Esther D'Amico and Tom Tritton for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.