Distillations | Science History Institute

On this episode we are visited by the ghosts of chemistry's past, present, and future, who teach us about Greek fire, red sludge, and the future of the sun. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:30 Introduction 00:44 Greek Fire 03:14 Hungarian Red Sludge 09:46 Death of the Sun 13:13 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Stefan Bos, Michal Meyer, and Dana Ricci for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

This week we continue our four-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about air and how the gases in it have been changing ever since Day 1. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:11 A Brief History of Air 05:14 Breathing Toxic Soup 12:45 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Bob Kenworthy and Jim Burress for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

On today's show we look at the Western perspective of Eastern medicine. First yogic breathing; then acupuncture. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:27 Introduction 00:59 Acupuncture 03:29 Yogic Breathing 08:25 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Gretchen Cuda and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

This week we continue our four-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about fire and how humans have tried to protect themselves from it. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:32 Introduction 01:12 Flame Retardants 03:54 Third Degree Burns 12:36 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Anna Boiko-Weyrauch and Victoria Indivero for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

Today’s show will have your skin crawling… literally. In honor of Halloween we bring you a show revealing a scarier (and squirmier) side of science. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:27 Introduction 00:54 Forensic Anthropology 04:06 A Conversation with Robert Hicks and His Leeches 11:47 Maggots 14:39 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Margaret E. Wood and Michal Meyer for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

This week we continue our 4-part series about earth, air, water, and fire. Today’s episode is about water and the many ways to ensure it is potable. SHOW CLOCK 00:00 Opening Credits 00:31 Introduction 01:28 Portable Water Purification 05:24 Desalination Plant on the River Thames 14:01 Closing Credits CREDITS Special thanks to Nina Perry and Jennifer Dionisio for researching this show. Additional credits available at chemheritage.org/distillations.

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.