Distillations | Science History Institute

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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