
The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean
A topsy-turvy science-y history podcast by Sam Kean. I examine overlooked stories from our past: the dental superiority of hunter-gatherers, the crooked Nazis who saved thousands of American lives, the American immigrants who developed the most successful cancer screening tool in history, the sex lives of dinosaurs, and much, much more. These are charming little tales that never made the history books, but these small moments can be surprisingly powerful. These are the cases where history gets inverted, where the footnote becomes the real story.
Latest episodes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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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