Distillations | Science History Institute

Distillations is the Science History Institute’s critically acclaimed flagship podcast. We take deep dives into stories that range from the serious to the eccentric, all to help listeners better understand the surprising science that is all around us. Hear about everything from the crisis in Alzheimer’s research to New England’s 19th-century vampire panic in compelling, sometimes-funny, documentary-style audio stories.

Science, Interrupted: Part 2 02/18/2025

Science, Interrupted: Part 2 Genetic engineering breakthroughs in the late 1960s and early 1970s came with a lot of promise—and peril too. Fears about what could happen with recombinant DNA experiments put scientists in the middle of a moral dilemma. Did they have a responsibility to consider how others might use their work? Or was their place simply to be on the lab bench? In this two-part episode, we’ll share the story about the first time scientists stopped and considered the ramifications of their work, with a self-imposed moratorium. And we’ll explore all the controversy that led to the historic pivotal meeting at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in 1975 to determine the future of genetic engineering. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: Music by Resource List University of California Television. YouTube. Berg, Paul. Wellcome Collection. Science History Institute. Cobb, Matthew. New York: Basic Books, 2021. Cohen, Stanley N. UC Berkeley. DNA Learning Center. Genetic Dreams, BBC. Fredrickson, Donald S. IMDb. IMDb. YouTube. Lear, John. Goodreads. Mukherjee, Siddhartha. . Simon & Schuster. McElheny, Victor. . McElheny, Victor. The New York Times, May 20, 1974. Dailymotion. YouTube. The New York Times, April 5, 1970. Rogers, Michael. Rolling Stone. PBS Learning Media. American Archive of Public Broadcasting. /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/35316995

Science, Interrupted: Part 1 02/17/2025

Science, Interrupted: Part 1 Genetic engineering breakthroughs in the late 1960s and early 1970s came with a lot of promise—and peril too. Fears about what could happen with recombinant DNA experiments put scientists in the middle of a moral dilemma. Did they have a responsibility to consider how others might use their work? Or was their place simply to be on the lab bench? In this two-part episode, we’ll share the story about the first time scientists stopped and considered the ramifications of their work, with a self-imposed moratorium. And we’ll explore all the controversy that led to the historic pivotal meeting at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in 1975 to determine the future of genetic engineering. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: Music by Resource List University of California Television. YouTube. Berg, Paul. Wellcome Collection. Science History Institute. Cobb, Matthew. New York: Basic Books, 2021. Cohen, Stanley N. UC Berkeley. DNA Learning Center. Genetic Dreams, BBC. Fredrickson, Donald S. IMDb. IMDb. YouTube. Lear, John. Goodreads. Mukherjee, Siddhartha. . Simon & Schuster. McElheny, Victor. . McElheny, Victor. The New York Times, May 20, 1974. Dailymotion. YouTube. The New York Times, April 5, 1970. Rogers, Michael. Rolling Stone. PBS Learning Media. American Archive of Public Broadcasting. /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/35301430

ALS Patients Take on the FDA 07/30/2024

ALS Patients Take on the FDA ALS is a fatal neurological disease that kills motor neurons. Even though it was first described more than 150 years ago, there is no cure, and the few drugs available only dampen the symptoms or slow the progression by a few months. In recent years new drugs have emerged. However, there is one problem: the life expectancy is just two to five years after diagnosis. This timeline is incompatible with the FDA drug approval process, which takes years and even decades. This has created a tense situation for desperate patients who are demanding the FDA approve unproven drugs. What’s the harm in giving desperate patients an imperfect drug? Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/32330377

The Fraud that Transformed Psychiatry 07/23/2024

The Fraud that Transformed Psychiatry In 1973 a bombshell study appeared in the premier scientific journal Science. It was called “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” Its author, a Stanford psychology professor named David Rosenhan, claimed that by faking their way into psychiatric hospitals, he and eight other pseudo-patients had proven that psychiatrists were unable to diagnose mental illness accurately. Psychiatrists panicked, and, as a result, re-wrote what’s known as “psychiatry’s bible”—the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM. The study and the subsequent overhaul of the DSM changed the field forever. So it was a surprise when, decades later, a journalist reopened Rosenhan’s files and discovered that the study was full of inconsistencies and even blatant fraud. So should we throw out everything it revealed? Or can something based on a lie still contain any truths? Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/32257447

Cancer Virus Hunters: An Interview with Gregory J. Morgan 07/16/2024

Cancer Virus Hunters: An Interview with Gregory J. Morgan For more than 100 years, biologists who suggested that some cancers may be caused by viruses were the pariahs of genetics. However, they persevered and incrementally built their knowledge, leading to the discovery of retroviruses, the development of a test to diagnose HIV, and the creation of the HPV vaccine. Join us as we interview Gregory J. Morgan about his book Cancer Virus Hunters: A History of Tumor Virology. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/32111792

The Ames Test 07/09/2024

The Ames Test In 1973 biochemist Bruce Ames created a simple test that showed if chemicals had the potential to cause cancer. The Ames test made him a hero of the emerging environmental movement. But then he completely changed course and said concerns about chemicals were overblown. So what happened? Did Ames change? Or did our understanding of what causes cancer change? Featured Oral History conducted by Paul Burnett in 2019 and 2020, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2021. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/32047482

Is Ozempic Different? 06/27/2024

Is Ozempic Different? Ozempic and others in this family of drugs are nothing short of miraculous. Meant to treat Type 2 Diabetes, the drug exploded in popularity after researchers found that patients were reporting losing 15-21% of their body weight in clinical trials. There were some side effects, but none so severe that it raised concerns. Doctors began prescribing it to people who weren't diabetic but could benefit from weight loss, and now, our only problem seems to be getting enough of it for all the people who need it. It all seems magical, but is it too good to be true? Join us as we dive into the history of weight loss drugs, drug manufacturing regulations, and the role we think medicine should play in our lives. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31913807

Traffication: An Interview with Paul Donald 06/24/2024

Traffication: An Interview with Paul Donald The impact of cars on wildlife extends beyond roadkill, affecting species that never venture near roads. Car noise disrupts bird communication and behavior, and tire and brake dust from pollutes waterways with microplastics. In this wide-ranging interview, we talk to the author of Traffication: How Cars Destroy Nature and What We Can Do About It, Paul Donald about how he coined the term "traffication," the history of road ecology, and what we can do about the problem. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31864817

Dyes, Drugs, and Psychosis 06/18/2024

Dyes, Drugs, and Psychosis In 1856, Henry Perkin's attempt to synthesize quinine led to something very different: a vibrant purple dye. Perkin’s mauve revolutionized the fashion industry when Queen Victoria wore a dress of the color to her daughter's wedding. And in an ironic twist, synthetic fabric dyes ultimately led to synthetic drugs, including the first antipsychotic. This drug, known by its trade name Thorazine, was a gamechanger. “Nobody thought there could be a drug that would treat schizophrenia effectively,” says sociologist Andrew Scull, “and then suddenly there was.” In this episode we explore the enduring relationship between dyes and drugs, and the role that mistakes and serendipity still play in drug development. Credits Host: Executive Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31789942

Pink: An Interview with Dominique Grisard 06/11/2024

Pink: An Interview with Dominique Grisard The color pink has long been in vogue, and when Barbie hit theaters in 2023, its appeal only increased. But its popularity dates back much further than the Mattel doll. In this bonus episode, Dr. Dominique Grisard, a gender studies professor at the University of Basel, discusses the hue and its ties to femininity, class, and Whiteness, as well as how pink has been used to subdue men in detention centers. This episode was inspired by our museum exhibition, , on view through August 3, 2024. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31697022

Can Color Heal Us? 06/10/2024

Can Color Heal Us? For centuries people have been drawn to the potential healing powers of colored light. From a civil war general to a Thomas Edison wannabe, people have touted it as a medical miracle. Despite claims to the contrary, though, colored light won’t regrow limbs or heal burns. And yet, we are still drawn to the idea that somehow it can fix us. Today there are actual medical studies investigating the health benefits of colored light. So is there any validity to the claims of the past? Can color really heal us? This episode was inspired by our museum exhibition, , on view through August 3, 2024. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31678577

The Word for Blue 06/03/2024

The Word for Blue In his epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer mentions the colors black, white, red, and yellow. But despite numerous mentions of the brilliant Greek sea and sky, the word blue never makes an appearance. This omission set off a debate between perception and language that would repeat itself over and over again throughout history: was there something wrong with the ancient Greek’s eyes? If they didn’t name blue, did that mean they couldn’t see it? We treat color like it's a clear measure of whether or not our brains are working the same. We expect an answer we can all agree on. Only it turns out some colors elude us. So when it comes to blue, are we truly seeing things differently or just seeing the same thing and describing it differently? Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Color Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31584957

New Season Trailer! Coming June 4th 05/28/2024

New Season Trailer! Coming June 4th Check out our new season, dropping weekly on Tuesdays, starting June 4th. /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/31495787

Exploring 'Health Equity Tourism' 10/24/2023

Exploring 'Health Equity Tourism' In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a new public interest in health inequities research. With this new focus, there also has come new funding with many researchers and institutions clamoring to receive lucrative funding and recognition in the field, but there are no official guidelines to distinguish a health equity expert. In this episode we sit down with Dr. Elle Lett who coined the term "health equity tourism" to describe when privileged and previously unengaged scholars enter the health equity field without developing the necessary expertise. Credits Hosts: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producers: & Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/28408526

The Mothers of Gynecology 04/18/2023

The Mothers of Gynecology Of all wealthy countries, the United States is the most dangerous place to have a baby. Our maternal mortality rate is abysmal, and over the past five years it’s only gotten worse. And there are huge racial disparities: Black women are three times more likely to die than white women. Despite some claims to the contrary, the problem isn’t race, it’s racism. In this episode we trace the origins of this harrowing statistic back to the dawn of American gynecology—a field that was built on the bodies of enslaved women. And we’ll meet eight women who have dedicated their lives to understanding and solving this complex problem. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26576946

Correcting Race 04/11/2023

Correcting Race Certain medical instruments have built-in methods of correcting for race. They’re based on the premise that Black bodies are inherently different from White bodies. The tool that measures kidney function, for example, underestimates how severe some Black patients’ kidney disease is, and prevents them from getting transplants. Medical students and doctors have been trying to do away with race correction tools once and for all. And they’re starting to see some success. About Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race “Correcting Race” is Episode 9 of , a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through , the Science History Institute’s highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. Innateis made possible in part by the . | | Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List e, by Cynthia Delgado, Mukta Baweja, Deidra C Crews, Nwamaka D Eneanya, Crystal A Gadegbeku, Lesley A Inker, Mallika L Mendu, W Greg Miller, Marva M Moxey-Mims, Glenda V Roberts, Wendy L St Peter, Curtis Warfield, Neil R Powe , by Theresa Gaffney , by Shannon Hong , by Lundy Braun , by Usha Lee McFarling , by Darshali A. Vyas, Leo G. Eisenstein, and David S. Jones , by Anh Nguyen , by Vanessa Grubbs , by Nwamaka Denise Eneanya, Wei Yang, Peter Philip Reese /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26505591

"That Rotten Spot" 04/04/2023

"That Rotten Spot" When the plague broke out in San Francisco in 1900 the public health department poured all of their energy into stopping its spread in Chinatown, as if Chinatown were the problem. This episode reveals why they did it, what it has to do with race science, and what it tells us about the history of public health. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26438847

Black Pills 03/28/2023

Black Pills In 2005 the FDA approved a pill to treat high blood preassure only in African Americans. This so-called miracle drug was named BiDil, and it became the first race-specific drug in the United States. It might sound like a good a good thing, but it had the unintended consequence of perpetuating the myth that race is a biological construct. Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List , by Dorothy Roberts , by Osagie K. Obasogie , by Jonathan Kahn , by Jay Cohn , by Jay S Kaufman, Susan A Hall , by Angela Saini /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26364429

Bad Blood, Bad Science 03/21/2023

Bad Blood, Bad Science The word “Tuskegee” has come to symbolize the Black community’s mistrust of the medical establishment. It has become American lore. However, most people don’t know what actually happened in Macon County, Alabama, from 1932 to 1972. This episode unravels the myths of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Syphilis Study (the correct name of the study) through conversations with descendants and historians. Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List , by David Montgomery , by Vanessa Northington Gamble /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26292735

The African Burial Ground 03/13/2023

The African Burial Ground In 1991, as crews broke ground on a new federal office building in lower Manhattan, they discovered human skeletons. It soon became clear that it was the oldest and largest African cemetery in the country. The federal government was ready to keep building, but people from all over the African diaspora were moved to treat this site with dignity, respect, and scientific excellence. When bioarchaeologist Michael Blakey took over, that's exactly what they got. But it wasn't easy. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List , by Michael Blakey by Michael Blakey , by Andrea E. Frohne , documentary film by David Kutz , by Erik R. Seeman , by multiple authors /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26215194

Return, Rebury, Repatriate 03/07/2023

Return, Rebury, Repatriate In 2019, Abdul-Aliy Muhammad, a community organizer and journalist, learned that the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology had a collection of skulls that belonged to enslaved people. As Muhammad demanded that the university return these skulls, they discovered that claiming ownership over bodies of marginalized people is not just a relic of the past—it continues to this day. Credits Host: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List , by Abdul-Aliy Muhammad , by Abdul-Aliy Muhammad , by Abdul-Aliy Muhammad , by Abdul-Aliy Muhammad , by Paul Wolff Mitchell , by Stephan Salisbury , by Maya Kassutto , by Paul Wolff Mitchell , by Bronwen Dickey , by Christopher D.E. Willoughby , by Christopher D.E. Willoughby , prepared by Dechert LLP and Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads LLP, for the city of Philadelphia , prepared by the Tucker Law Group for the University of Pennsylvania , film by Jane Mancini and Karen Pomer L, film by Jason Osder , archival collection at Temple University's Urban Archives /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26152734

The Vampire Project 02/28/2023

The Vampire Project In the 1990s a liberal population geneticist launched the Human Genome Diversity Project. The goal was to sequence the genomes of “isolated” and “disappearing” indigenous groups throughout the world. The project did not go as planned—indigenous groups protested it, and scientists and anthropologists criticized it. This episode examines what went wrong and asks the question: can anti-racist scientists create racist science? About Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race “The Vampire Project” is Episode 4 of , a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through , the Science History Institute’s highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. Innate is made possible in part by the . Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/26076993

Keepers of the Flame 02/21/2023

Keepers of the Flame In the 1970s Barry Mehler started tracking race scientists and he noticed something funny: they all had the same funding source. One wealthy man was using his incredible resources to prop up any scientist he could find who would validate his white supremacist ideology—and make it seem like it was backed by a legitimate scientific consensus. About Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race “Keepers of the Flame” is Episode 3 of , a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through , the Science History Institute’s highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. Innate is made possible in part by the . Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List , by Paul Lombardo , by William Tucker , by Barry Mehler , by Angela Saini /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/25997796

Calamity in Philadelphia 02/13/2023

Calamity in Philadelphia In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic almost destroyed Philadelphia. The young city was saved by two Black preachers, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, who organized the free Black community in providing essential services and nursing the sick and dying. Allen and Jones were assured of two things: that stepping up would help them gain full equality and citizenship, and that they were immune to the disease. Neither promise turned out to be true. About Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race “Calamity in Philadelphia” is Episode 2 of , a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through , the Science History Institute’s highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. Innate is made possible in part by the . Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: Richard Allen voiceover by “Innate Theme” composed by . Additional music by . Resource List , by Alicia Ault , by Mathew Carey , by Rana A. Hogarth , by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen , by Richard Newman , by Benjamin Rush , produced by Dr. Mark Tyler Transcript /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/25912911

BONUS EPISODE: Cheddar Man 02/10/2023

BONUS EPISODE: Cheddar Man In 2018 ancient DNA researchers revealed their analysis of a 10,000 year old skeleton called Cheddar Man. He was the oldest complete skeleton ever discovered in England, and the revelation that he had dark skin challenged assumptions many people had about what the earliest people in Britain looked like. /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/25886619

Origin Stories 02/07/2023

Origin Stories It might seem as though the way we think about race now is how we’ve always thought about it—but it isn’t. Race was born out of the Enlightenment in Europe, along with the invention of modern western science. And it was tied to the politics of the age—imperialism and later slavery. This episode traces the origins of race science to the Enlightenment, examines how the Bible influenced racial theories, and considers how we still have a hard time letting go of the idea of race. About Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race “Origin Stories” is Episode 1 of , a podcast and magazine project that explores the historical roots and persistent legacies of racism in American science and medicine. Published through , the Science History Institute’s highly acclaimed digital content platform, the project examines the scientific origins of support for racist theories, practices, and policies. Innate is made possible in part by the . Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: "Innate Theme" composed by . Additional music by . Special thanks to our colleagues, and , for their help with this episode. Resource List , by Michael Blakey , by Lundy Braun , by Terence Keel , by Dorothy Roberts "," song by Cedarmont Kids , by Rana Hogarth , by Hartmann Schedel , by Angela Saini Find the . /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/25856229

New Season Trailer! Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race 01/20/2023

New Season Trailer! Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race Our new season, Innate: How Science Invented the Myth of Race, drops on February 7th. /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/25670058

Mechanochemistry 07/13/2022

Mechanochemistry What comes to mind when you think of a chemistry lab? Maybe it’s smoke billowing out of glassware, or colorful test tubes, or vats of toxic substances. Chemistry and hazardous solvents just seem to go hand in hand. But chemists like James Mack think there’s a greener way: It’s called mechanochemistry, a kind of chemistry that uses physical force to grind materials instead of solvents. And it’s getting the attention of such huge corporations as Exxon Mobil. Still, some chemists are not ready to give up their traditional techniques. “I thought they were married to the molecules,” says Mack, who is pictured above placing vials into a machine that uses fast-spinning ball bearings to pulverize molecules. “Little did I know they were actually married to the flask.” Credits Host: Reporter, Producer, and Audio Engineer: Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/23732234

Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius as Written by Our Genetic Code 03/01/2022

Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius as Written by Our Genetic Code The Disappearing Spoon, a between the Science History Institute and New York Times best-selling author Sam Kean, returns for its third season on March 8, 2022. To celebrate, our producer, Padmini Parthasarathy, sat down with Kean to talk about his book The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code. This interview is a great companion piece for the new season of The Disappearing Spoon, which tackles all sorts of strange and interesting stories about the geniuses we know well—from Einstein and his great scientific blunder that turned out to be correct, to Monet and the cataracts that almost made him put down his brush forever. Listen as Kean talks about violin protégé Niccolo Paganini, whose genes were both a blessing and a curse, the scientific arms race that led to the mapping of the human genome, and the sometimes-murky lines between human and non-human. Credits Hosts: and Senior Producer: Producer: Associate Producer: Audio Engineer: Photo: /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/22298789

The Sinister Angel Singers of Rome 12/07/2021

The Sinister Angel Singers of Rome How a simple operation—castrating little boys—produced the greatest singers the world has ever known. /episode/index/show/chemheritage/id/21408212

Distillations | Science History Institute

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