Distillations | Science History Institute

In this week’s episode we pay tribute to the periodic table. We talk to Sam Kean, author of the best-selling book The Disappearing Spoon and hear an excerpt from Primo Levi’s book The Periodic Table. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:21 Interview with Sam Kean 09:28 "Carbon," from The Periodic Table by Primo Levi 12:57 Competition - Elemental Memoir 13:31 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Michal Meyer and Mia Lobel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

This week we begin our four-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about earth and the Marcellus Shale. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:40 The Geologic History of the Marcellus Shale 06:04 The Marcellus Shale Today 13:31 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Michal Meyer and Susan Phillips for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Before pharmaceuticals existed, all medicines had to come from natural sources—like plants. On this week’s show we focus on such remedies. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:24 Digitalis, aka Foxglove 03:45 Visiting Lancaster Farmacy 12:42 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio and Joel Rose for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

We continue to bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: Senescence, Richard Holmes, and Boy Rocketeer. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 00:57 Chemical Agent: Senescence 03:32 A Conversation with Richard Holmes 07:53 Boy Rocketeer 13:34 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Hilary Domush, Michael Meyer, and James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

This month Distillations takes a step back to bring you some of our favorite segments from past episodes: Glenn Seaborg, the Three Sisters, and Living with Illness. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 00:57 Chemical Agent: Glenn Seaborg 03:30 Tools of the Trade: The Three Sisters 06:22 Living with Ilness 11:39 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio, Andy Mangravite, and Erica Stefanovich for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Distillations marks its 100th episode this week! To celebrate, we revisit segments from some of our past shows and bring you new developments on electric car batteries, hair mats cleaning up oil spills, and the Obama administration's environmental policies post-election. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:31 Update: The Electric Car 03:49 Update: Cleaning Up Oil Spills 09:27 Update: A Planet in Peril 13:00 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Devin Browne, Jody Roberts, and Erica Stefanovich for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

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.

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.

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.

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.