The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Untold Story of Alice Ball
Feb 4, 2026
Dr. Andre Isaacs, a professor of organic chemistry, guides listeners through Alice Ball’s pioneering work. He explains how her kava research prepared her to isolate shalmugra oil and invent a water-soluble injection. They trace the method’s impact, the erasure of her name, and later efforts to restore her credit.
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Early Chemistry Roots In Family Photography
- Alice Ball grew up around photographers and learned chemistry through photo development in her family.
- She earned two bachelor degrees and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society before age 23.
Teach Chemistry Through Ball's Story
- Use Ball's story in teaching to connect basic organic chemistry to real-world impact and inspire diverse students.
- Show the short film The Ball Method and assign reflections to deepen engagement and identity connection.
Ball Method Turned Folk Remedy Into Medicine
- Alice Ball developed a chemical process that made chaulmoogra oil injectable and therapeutically usable for leprosy patients.
- Her Ball Method transformed a traditional remedy into a practical medical treatment still taught in chemistry classes today.