The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean cover image

The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean

Latest episodes

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Jul 14, 2020 • 24min

The Ice Island Murder

How one of the messiest homicides in history - when one scientist killed another scientist over a jug of raisin wine way up inside the Arctic Circle - foreshadows the first murder in outer space...
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Jul 7, 2020 • 21min

Our Slimy Nazi Saviors

How two crooked Nazis—and one top-secret scientific mission—saved thousands of American lives during World War II...
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Jun 23, 2020 • 23min

Are Braces a Health Disaster?

Why hunter-gatherers had perfect teeth, why modern humans rarely do, and the profound consequences for our health...
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Jun 9, 2020 • 23min

The Science Immigrants Who Saved Millions

How two unlikely immigrants teamed up and saved millions of women's lives by developing the most successful cancer screening tool in history...
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Jun 2, 2020 • 21min

Tyrannosaurus sex

How a man who hated dinosaurs ended up revolutionizing our understanding of them, including dinosaur beauty and dinosaur sex...
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May 22, 2020 • 22min

The Lost Dinosaurs of Central Park

How a New York mob boss destroyed what would have been greatest dinosaur museum in the world...
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May 11, 2020 • 24min

Exposing Nazi Medical Atrocities

How one Jewish doctor, Leo Alexander, single-handedly exposed the worst Nazi medical atrocities of World War II...
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Apr 27, 2020 • 20min

Glove at First Sight

How a long-forgotten woman pioneered the first personal protective equipment (PPE) in history, rubber gloves for surgery, equipment that has been vital in fighting infections and pandemics ever since...
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Apr 20, 2020 • 19min

Galileo and Art, part 2

Discover how Galileo blended art and science to challenge ancient beliefs about the moon's surface. His innovative use of the telescope revealed a cratered landscape, shattering old dogmas. Explore how his artistic training inspired scientific advances and influenced notable artworks. Delve into his early mathematical pursuits and unique interpretations of literary classics, showcasing the profound connections between creativity and discovery. Learn about the societal and religious tensions that emerged from his revolutionary findings.
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Apr 20, 2020 • 21min

Galileo and Art, part 1

Dive into the fiery world of the Renaissance, where a bold lute player named Vincenzo challenged centuries of Pythagorean thought on music. Discover how his innovative ideas reshaped musical theory and the cosmos. The clash between ratios and emotions takes center stage as Vincenzo pushes back against tradition. Also, explore how Galileo used art to defy Aristotle, blending creativity with scientific inquiry. It's a tantalizing look at how music and artistry sparked revolutionary ideas.

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