Distillations | Science History Institute

This week we’re digging into our archives and looking back at one of our first episodes of Distillations. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 00:59 Commentary: Trash Island 03:21 Element of the Week: Mercury 05:11 Cleaning Up Oil Spills 09:36 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jody Roberts for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

The future is now. Distillations, therefore, is pausing to compare what people once predicted the modern world would look like to the actual reality on the ground—and in the air. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:16 Chemical Agent: Magic Bullet 03:02 Feature: Fembots 08:37 Space Colonization 11:44 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Aries Keck, Jennifer Dionisio, Hilary Domush, and Mia Lobel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

In honor of National Lab Day in May this episode focuses on the scientist in every kid. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 00:54 Chemical Agent: Bangsite 02:32 Feature: Kids Doing Science 06:51 Boy Rocketeer 12:15 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Mia Lobel and James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

April is National Poetry Month and Distillations is celebrating by looking at the connections between science and literature. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:26 Chemical Agent: Opium 03:41 Conversation with Richard Holmes 08:08 Poetry and Science with Lord Byron 11:09 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

In early March 2010 the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s museum opened its newest temporary exhibit, Marvels and Ciphers: A Look Inside the Flask. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:40 Introduction 01:05 Chemical Agent: Viagra 04:30 Secrets of the Alchemical Tree 08:43 19th-Century Political Cartoons 09:47 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Hilary Domush and James Voelkel for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

What’s better than recycling? Reducing waste! OK, maybe not better, but equally important. In this week’s episode of Distillations we learn about industrial-waste reduction. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:11 Chemical Agent: Carbon Black 03:04 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Vaseline 05:49 Conversation with Roger Horowitz 10:55 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Victoria Indivero, Michal Meyer, and Maggie Wood for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Love it or hate it, plastic is hard to avoid. This week we take a look at plastic made from corn and find out just how biodegradable it really is. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:21 Polylactic Acid 03:32 Plastic Leaching 06:35 Conversation with a Chemist: Keeping Meat Fresh 11:30 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Hilary Domush and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On this week’s episode of Distillations we’re talking about what the nose knows. First up we learn about the nose itself—how it works and how losing your sense of smell can affect your day-to-day life. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:08 The Nose 03:19 Scent Identification 05:53 Feature: Perfume Vinyl 11:27 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Hilary Domush, Victoria Indivero, Michal Meyer and Douglas Smith for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Scientific discoveries can be dramatic tales of unexpected adventure. They can also be personal explorations of intuition and faith. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:02 Chemical Agent: The Wolf Trap 03:22 A Conversation with Bill Brock 08:46 Mystery Solved! The Unknown Continent 11:48 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Michal Meyer and Victoria Indivero for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.  

Whether it’s preventing illness by vaccines or avoiding germs, this episode is about getting sick and staying healthy. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:22 Chemical Agent: Meningitis Vaccine 03:27 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Hand Sanitizer 06:04 Feature: Living with Illness 11:36 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Maggie Wood and Erica Stefanovich for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.