Cover image of Distillations | Science History Institute

Distillations | Science History Institute

Each episode of Distillations podcast takes a deep-dive into a moment of science-related history in order to shed light on the present.

Ranked #1

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Episode 144: Mystery of Mass (Spec)

Episode 144: Mystery of Mass (Spec)

On today's episode we look at the diverse history of mass spectrometry, starting with a single question: exactly what is... Read more

30 Mar 2012

Ranked #2

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Episode 78: Public Science

Episode 78: Public Science

Science isn’t some exalted ideal confined to labs and classrooms—it’s all around us. In this episode we share different ... Read more

25 Sep 2009

11mins

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Ranked #3

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Episode 149: Blood

Episode 149: Blood

Today we begin the three-part series Blood, Sweat, and Tears. First how one man solved the mystery of blood function; th... Read more

8 Jun 2012

Ranked #4

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The Ancient Chemistry Inside Your Taco

The Ancient Chemistry Inside Your Taco

When you bite into a taco, quesadilla, or anything else involving a traditionally made corn tortilla, your taste buds ge... Read more

4 May 2016

15mins

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Ranked #5

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(Natural) Childbirth

(Natural) Childbirth

Our producer is pregnant. For the past nine months people have asked what her birth plan is, which to her seems like ask... Read more

4 Oct 2016

30mins

Ranked #6

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Episode 115: Black History Month

Episode 115: Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, we reveal the lesser known accomplishments of George Washington Carver, and also pull f... Read more

18 Feb 2011

11mins

Ranked #7

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Science and the Supernatural in the 17th Century

Science and the Supernatural in the 17th Century

Most of us are familiar with the achievements of Galileo and Newton, but who were their peers? And what was it like to p... Read more

29 Jul 2015

26mins

Ranked #8

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Episode 114: Elements of Expression

Episode 114: Elements of Expression

In this episode we learn about how the mass production of oil paints spawned a new artistic movement and get a tour of a... Read more

4 Feb 2011

12mins

Ranked #9

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Episode 181: Chemotherapy

Episode 181: Chemotherapy

Ancient Greek doctors knew about it, but could do nothing about the scourge we know as cancer. Producer Ed Prosser inter... Read more

3 Sep 2013

17mins

Ranked #10

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Why the Chicken Became a Nugget and Other Tales of Processed Food

Why the Chicken Became a Nugget and Other Tales of Processed Food

Have you ever wondered how chicken nuggets are made? Or what propylene glycol monostearate, monocalcium phosphate, or ot... Read more

20 Dec 2013

27mins

Ranked #11

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Power in the Blood: When Religion and Medicine Meet in Your Veins

Power in the Blood: When Religion and Medicine Meet in Your Veins

Everyone knows blood is powerful. The ancient Greeks realized it, Jesus understood it, Dracula certainly recognized it, ... Read more

5 Apr 2016

25mins

Ranked #12

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Genetic Engineering and Organic Farming: An Unexpected Marriage

Genetic Engineering and Organic Farming: An Unexpected Marriage

Celebrities, politicians, and scientists have fiercely debated the safety of using genetically modified organisms, or GM... Read more

6 Oct 2015

34mins

Ranked #13

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Episode 4: Measurement

Episode 4: Measurement

Chemistry has always been a science of measurement. In this episode, we look at several cases of how measurements affect... Read more

4 Jan 2008

12mins

Ranked #14

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Digging Up the Bodies: Debunking CSI and Other Forensics Myths

Digging Up the Bodies: Debunking CSI and Other Forensics Myths

Thanks to modern technology most crimes these days can be neatly solved in under an hour. At least that's what fictional... Read more

3 Dec 2013

18mins

Ranked #15

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Episode 137: Cocktails

Episode 137: Cocktails

Cheers! On today's episode of Distillations we belly up to the bar to learn about distilled spirits. Then we look ahead ... Read more

23 Dec 2011

Ranked #16

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Episode 172: On Beauty

Episode 172: On Beauty

On today's show we look at questionable appearance enhancers. First The Beauty Historian shares some shocking beauty rit... Read more

29 Apr 2013

15mins

Ranked #17

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Episode 141: Disaster Recovery

Episode 141: Disaster Recovery

On today's episode we look at how environments recover after natural and manmade disasters. First, we hear about how eco... Read more

17 Feb 2012

Ranked #18

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Episode 152: Best of Distillations #9

Episode 152: Best of Distillations #9

We bring you some of our favorite segments from past Distillations episodes this week: animal communication in the Sonor... Read more

23 Jul 2012

Ranked #19

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Episode 173: Power Up

Episode 173: Power Up

On today's show we look at the modern power grid, on the brink of a new era. First, why the smart grid matters. Then, th... Read more

14 May 2013

17mins

Ranked #20

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Alchemy's Rainbow: Pigment Science and the Art of Conservation

Alchemy's Rainbow: Pigment Science and the Art of Conservation

This episode explores the colorful (and sometimes risk-filled) history of pigments and painters, and the conservators wh... Read more

5 May 2014

30mins

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