Distillations

Episode 82: Food Myths

vindivero — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:01:06 +0000

Food is the fuel that allows our bodies to function, so it’s important to choose what we ingest and how we ingest it wisely. Unfortunately the answers to those questions change all the time. In today’s episode of Distillations we clarify common misconceptions about food, such as how closely Splenda resembles real sugar, what the Master Cleanse does for your body, and why trans fats became an absolute health don’t. Chemical Agent: Sucralose.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:18 Chemical Agent: Sucralose
03:30 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Detox Diets
06:04 A Conversation with David Schleifer on Trans Fats
11:33 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Jennifer Dionisio, Sky Kalfus, and Erica Stefanovich.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Wine Woman and Song,” by Johnny Ferreira and ”Resolution in Blue,” by Microtonal Music by Prent Rodgers.

Image by slopjop via Flickr.

Episode 81: Light

jdionisio — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:49:17 +0000

Let there be light! Whether it comes from the sky or a bulb, we’d be lost without it. In this episode of Distillations, we first examine new developments in solar power. Next, we explore how light can be used to treat those with Seasonal Affective Disorder. And finally, producer Jim Burress takes us through a guided history of lightbulbs, starting in Louisville, Kentucky, with Thomas Edison’s most illuminating invention. Chemical Agent: Organic Solar Cells.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:01 Chemical Agent: Organic Solar Cells
03:54 Mystery Solved! Seasonal Affective Disorder
06:42 Feature: The History of Lightbulbs
11:21 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Hilary Domush, Michal Meyer, and Erica Stefanovich.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Bacon Wine,” by Jim Tyrrell, ”Madam, Madame!,” by Firefox AK, and ”Snows No Fun At All,” by Danny Daughtridge Trio.

Image courtesy NASA/GSFC via Flickr.

Episode 80: Autumn

mmeyer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:01:08 +0000

Autumn is a time of beauty and bounty. Leaves turn rich browns, reds, and yellows; fruit ripens on the trees and grains on the stalk. In this episode of Distillations, we take a look at the chemical processes behind leaf changes. Then we look at some time-honored practices in the growing of beans, squash, and corn, traditionally known as the three sisters. And lastly, come with us on a visit to an apple orchard, where heritage apples are fermented into cider. Chemical Agent: Senescence.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:07 Chemical Agent: Senescence
03:43 Tools of the Trade: The Three Sisters
06:27 Feature: Apple Cider
10:52 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Hilary Domush and Erica Stefanovich.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “MorningStar Rise,” by Joseph FireCrow, “Cockroaches..Ready…Set..Lights On!,” by Ricky Hana, and “Work,” by Naughty Jack.

Image courtesy Micha L. Reiser.

Episode 79: Changing Phases

vindivero — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:01:24 +0000

Everything falls into one of three phases of matter: solid, liquid, or gas. Or does it? Sometimes it’s a bit more ambiguous. In this episode of Distillations, first we take a look at dry ice, which skips a phase. Next, we examine the atomic structure of glass, which surprisingly looks more like a super-cooled liquid than a solid. And finally, we meet Distillations’ new executive producer Michal Meyer to discuss her love of science and her plans for the show. Chemical Agent: Dry Ice.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:11 Chemical Agent: Dry Ice
03:34 A Conversation with Michal Meyer
08:11 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Glass
11:04 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Hilary Domush and Jennifer Dionisio.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Nexus Phase,” by Dr. Awkward and “Glass Pebbles,” by Divasonic.

Episode 78: Public Science

jdionisio — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:01:03 +0000

Science isn’t some exalted ideal confined to labs and classrooms—it’s all around us. In today’s episode we share different ways that scientists have reached out to educate and enlighten the masses. First, we pay homage to “Seaborg on Science,” a 1960s radio show that exposed a generation to the wonders of the scientific world. Next, we look at the humble air pump, which Robert Boyle used to demonstrate his revolutionary discoveries in the 17th century. Finally, producer Lisa Gray takes us to downtown Manhattan to attend the New York Academy of Science’s regular Science in the City lecture. Chemical Agent: Glenn Seaborg.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:00 Chemical Agent: Glenn Seaborg
03:43 Tools of the Trade: The Air Pump
06:07 Feature: Science in the City
11:08 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Andy Magravite and Erin McLeary.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Science Procedural,” by Podcast Troubador and “Creation Science Polka,” by the Rudy Schwartz Project. “Seaborg on Science,” produced by the Division of Public Information of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission with the assistance of Argonne National Laboratory. Interviewer: Ed Ronne, Information Staff at Argonne. Producers: Sid Schwartz, AEC, and Jon Fogel, AEC.

This week’s image is courtesy of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.

Episode 77: Innovations and Inventions

vindivero — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:01:18 +0000

Every year the Chemical Heritage Foundation holds Innovation Day—an event for people to get together to discuss and learn about science’s exciting new technologies. On this week’s episode we take a look at innovations—the natural kind and the man-made kind. First we talk about thermoregulation—the body’s way of keeping itself at just the right temperature. Next we learn how GoreTex can be used for more than just jackets. And finally, host Meir Rinde interviews Dr. Richard Silverman, who discovered the main chemical compound in the drug Lyrica and is the recipient of this year’s Perkin Medal. Chemical Agent: Thermoregulation.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:13 Chemical Agent: Thermoregulation
03:34 Tools of the Trade: GoreTex Stents
06:25 A Conversation with Richard Silverman
11:22 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Chi Chan.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Gathered Safely In,” by Damien Shingleton, “The Rhyme Scheme,” by Cursive, and “All About the Old School,” by MSU Orchestra.

Episode 76: Working Class Chemistry

jdionisio — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:01:43 +0000

In honor of Labor Day, today’s episode of Distillations looks at how chemistry has impacted the work of a variety of professionals—for better or worse. First, we look at a heat-resistant fiber designed in the 1950s to protect pilots and astronauts. Then, we learn how toxic exposure to synthetic dyes influenced the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Finally, Senior Producer Mia Lobel learns from Warren Breslau how the material world is welded together. Chemical Agent: Polybenzimidazole.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
00:59 Chemical Agent: Polybenzimidazole
02:58 History Lesson: Origins of Occupational Health
06:01 Feature: The Chemistry of Welding
10:40 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Andy Magravite and Jody Roberts.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “The Subway,” by Audiofinger.

This week’s image was uploaded by to Flickr by elisfanclub.

Episode 75: Best of Distillations #4

vindivero — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:50:38 +0000

Distillations is sharing more of our favorite episodes this week. First we look back at our Valentine’s Day show, as Daria Panichas explains free radicals in the Chemical Agent. Then we visit the Boston Fine Art Museum with producer Rebecca Sheir and find out how its Scientific Research Laboratory detects forgery. Finally Bob Kenworthy tells us about snoring in the Mystery Solved! segment from our show about sleep. Chemical Agent: Free Radicals.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
00:48 Chemical Agent: Free Radicals
02:42 Feature: Detecting Forgery in Art
07:35 Mystery Solved! Snoring
10:51 Closing Credits

Credits

Thank you to Hilary Domush and Anke Timmermann who researched the shows we featured this week.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network.

This week’s image was uploaded by to stock.xchng by iprole.

Episode 74: Best of Distillations #3

vindivero — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:01:35 +0000

It’s almost the end of the summer, so the Distillations crew is taking a look back at some of our favorite episodes this week. First we return to our show about space science, as Jen Dionisio explains panspermia in the Chemical Agent. Next we explore taste with the Mystery Solved! segment from our episode on eating and producer Aries Keck tells us about umami. Finally we revisit our cause and effect show by learning about pheromone perfumes. Gigi Naglak tells us all about it. Chemical Agent: Panspermia.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:40 Introduction
00:59 Chemical Agent: Panspermia
03:04 Mystery Solved! Umami
07:14 Chemistry in your Cupboard: Pheromone Perfumes
9:59 Closing Credits

Credits

Thank you to Audra Wolfe and Jen Dionisio who researched the shows we featured this week.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network.

This week’s image was uploaded by to stock.xchng by mab_design.

Episode 73: Brave New Worlds

jdionisio — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:01:38 +0000

Birth, once nature’s miracle, is increasingly manipulated by humans and regulated by society. In this week’s episode, we look at a range of reproductive technologies and the implications of their use. First we look at the herbal fertility treatments women used hundreds of years ago. Then, our host Meir Rinde speaks with University of Pennsylvania doctoral candidate Joanna Radin about a trend catching on with new moms: cord-blood banking. Finally, CHF’s Erica Stefanovich explores the dark side of these technologies as described in classic dystopian literature. Chemical Agent: Luteinizing Hormone.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:30 Introduction
01:16 Chemical Agent: Luteinizing Hormone
03:54 Conversation with Joanna Radin
09:01 Review: Reproduction in Dystopian Novels
11:39 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Erica Stefanovich and Hilary Domush.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Brave Heart,” by Sonic Mystery, “Before Beauty,” by Secret Archives of the Vatican, and “love hides in familiar places,” by lacunae.

This week’s image was uploaded to Flickr by Kshort1.

Distillations Wins New York Festivals Award!

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:00:21 +0000

We’re very pleased to announce that Distillations has received two awards from New York Festivals for Radio Programming & Promotion. For 52 years the New York Festivals Radio Programming and Promotions Awards has recognized the world’s best work in radio broadcasting. In a competition against entries submitted by radio stations, networks, and producers from over 30 countries, the following Distillations episodes were honored:

Bronze World Medal

Episode 41: Self-Experimentation
Episode 50: Children’s Health
Episode 51: Global Health

Finalist Certificate

Episode 44: Sweet Dreams

Congratulations to the programming team and production staff of Distillations! We also give many, many thanks to all the listeners out there in podcast land who tune in to Distillations. Your enthusiastic support is integral to our success.

Episode 72: Space and Place

vindivero — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:01:51 +0000

Location, location, location! In this week’s episode we talk about why and how certain spaces are chosen and used. First we go back in time to the late 1800s and find out why Herbert Dow chose Midland, Michigan, as the site of his company. Next, learn about brownfields and how they are being remediated to become habitable again. Finally, CHF’s Jody Roberts speaks to Professor Jim Hutchison, from the University of Oregon, about changing laboratory facilities in order to make them a better space and place for students, faculty, and others to work. Chemical Agent: Bromine.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:07 Chemical Agent: Bromine
03:13 Mystery Solved! Brownfields
06:31 Conversation with Jim Hutchison
11:16 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Hilary Domush, Jennifer Dionisio, and Jody Roberts.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Pumpkin,” by Jack Erdie and “In A Different Place,” by PAT ZELENKA.

This week’s image is of the Evans Flour Mill in Midland, Michigan. The tower in the photo housed the brine well — which provided the raw material for Dow to produce bromine. From the Dow Historical Collection, CHF Archives.

Episode 71: Breakfast

jdionisio — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:01:49 +0000

You’ve likely heard a million times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Luckily, it’s also arguably the most delicious! On today’s show, we take a look at the ingredient responsible for perfectly spreadable fruit preserves. Next we debate the merits of baking with butter vs. oil. And finally, producer Rebecca Sheir visits Rise and Shine Bakery in Anchorage, Alaska, to learn how to make sourdough bread. Chemical Agent: Pectin.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:21 Chemical Agent: Pectin
03:34 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Butter vs. Oil
06:37 Feature: Making Sourdough Bread
11:00 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Audra Wolfe.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes “Big Butter and Egg Man From Way Down South,” by Yamomanem, and “Jazz Breakfast,” by Gecko 3.

This week’s image is “Sunny Side Up,” uploaded to Flickr by Phillie Casablanca.

Episode 70: The Chemistry of Dentistry

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:01:32 +0000

Americans take dental hygiene very seriously. From dentist visits twice a year to orthodontics, we tend to obsess over the straightness and whiteness of our teeth. First we take a look at baking soda and how it keeps teeth clean. Next we find out about some do-it-yourself dentistry, like giving yourself a temporary filling. And finally, producer Ari Daniel Shapiro takes us to the dentist to learn about lidocaine. Chemical Agent: Sodium Bicarbonate.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:15 Chemical Agent: Sodium Bicarbonate
03:15 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: DIY Dental Care
06:00 Feature: Lidocaine to Numb the Pain
10:32 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Anke Timmermann and Audra Wolfe.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes ”Oral Hygiene,” by Bongos, Bass & Bob, performed by Onomatopoeia, “Brush Your Teeth,” by Amy Jo Doty, “DIY – oneeyedboy remix,” by A Band Called Quinn, and “Jim the Toothbrush,” by Eric Strom.

This week’s image is “Toothpaste 1,” uploaded to stock.xchng by garytamin.

Episode 69: Lab Safety

jdionisio — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:01:51 +0000

Laboratory science can be a risky business, as many of the chemicals used by researchers can be hazardous to their health. While some of these substances’ dangers are easily mitigated by following proper safety procedures, others have risks that increase with extended exposure—a lesson unfortunately learned by many chemists in previous centuries, which we explore on today’s show. Next, Distillations promotes safety first by exploring why geeky goggles seem more popular in labs than safety glasses. Finally, producer Robin Sussingham visits Auburn Thompson’s 10th grade classroom, where the teacher catches his kids’ attention through pyrotechnics best not tried at home. Chemical Agent: Lead.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:02 Chemical Agent: Lead
03:31 Tools of the Trade: Safety Goggles
06:23 Feature: High School Chemistry Demonstrations
10:45 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Anke Timmerman and Hilary Domush.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes ”Doctor Dogbrain,” by Al Phlipp and “The Woo Team Goggles,” by The Misprintz.

This week’s image is “Save Your Eyes—Use Your Goggles,” uploaded to flickr.com by sakraft1 on 19 July 2008.

Episode 68: Integrated Circuits

vindivero — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:01:16 +0000

This year is the 50th anniversary of the integrated circuit! The IC is an important part of many electronic technologies we use today, from your iPod to your cell phone and even to your GPS. Learn about the light-sensitive chemically amplified photoresist, which allowed production of smaller and smaller pieces. Next we discover how the incredibly thin wafers, also integral to the IC, are made so flawlessly. And finally, we talk to CHF’s own Hyungsub Choi about the beginnings of the integrated circuit and why it’s still needed today. Chemical Agent: Chemically Amplified Photoresists.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:15 Chemical Agent: Chemically Amplified Photoresists
03:43 Mystery Solved! Crystal Puller
06:27 A conversation with Hyungsub Choi
10:46 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Chi Chan, Eleanor Goldberg, and Audra Wolfe.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes ”Big Dog,” by Emmett and “They Be Underwater,” by Dark Captain Light Captain.

This week’s image is of the Elmat Corporation’s crystal puller located in CHF’s Making Modernity exhibit.

Episode 67: Baseball

jdionisio — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:01:14 +0000

After several long, cold, months baseball season has finally begun! From Philadelphia, the home of 2008 World Series Champions, we bring you a show straight from the ballpark. We’ll take a look at the preservatives that make a classic hot dog last and last, and we’ll explore the chemistry behind performance-enhancing drugs. Producer Ari Daniel Shapiro wraps up the show with a piece on how baseball bats are making use of nanotechnology. Chemical Agent: Anabolic steriods. (For more on the science of sport, check out Episode 26 and Episode 59.)

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:02 Chemical Agent: Anabolic Steriods
03:24 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Hot Dogs
06:04 Feature: Is That Nanotechnology in Your Bat?
10:40 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Jennifer Dionisio.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network and archive.org. Additional music includes ”Hot Doggin,” by Deerfoot (PodSafe) and “Who Cares,” by Bob Thorp (archive.org).

This week’s image is “There are 108 Stitches in a Baseball,” uploaded to flickr.com by B Tal.

Episode 66: Cleaning Green

vindivero — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:41:22 +0000

It is officially spring — time to open the windows, let the fresh air in, and sweep those winter blues away! In this episode we learn about acetic acid and its cleaning power — a natural and fairly cheap option to clean your house. Then find out how hard water can make cleaning more difficult, and what you can do about it. And finally, producer Rene Gutel explores the new trend in green dry cleaning. Chemical Agent: Acetic Acid.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
00:59 Chemical Agent: Acetic Acid
03:05 Mystery Solved! Hard Water
06:05 Feature: Green Dry Cleaning
11:12 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Eleanor Goldberg.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network and archive.org. Additional music includes ”Water In Our Hands – Tiny Mile Remix,” by Dive Index (PodSafe), “House Cleaning Blues,” by Johnny Nicholas (PodSafe), and “Who Cares,” by Eddie Elkins Orchestra (archive.org).

This week’s image is of the outdoor sculpture Big Sweep at the Denver Art Museum.

Episode 65: Going to the Dogs

admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:01:04 +0000

A 2007 survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that nearly 60% of American households have at least one pet, and nearly two-thirds of pet owners had more than one. That’s a lot of dogs, cats, turtles, birds, hamsters and iguanas. On today’s episode we turn our scientific lens to the relationship between humans and their furry friends. We start off with the reason many people avoid pets: allergies. Next, we investigate claims of cancer-sniffing animals. Producer Jori Lewis wraps things up with a feature on her search for a pet-friendly way to rid her Brooklyn apartment of New York’s unwelcome houseguests: cockroaches. Chemical Agent: Histamines.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
00:51 Chemical Agent: Histamines
03:04 Mystery Solved! Cancer-sniffing Dogs
05:45 Feature: Pet-friendly Extermination Methods
10:11 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Jennifer Dionisio.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes ”furball kitty sneezer,” by Edgar Malaran, “Walking the dogg,” by 37HZ, “The Dog Song,” by Little Thom, and “Bugs,” by the Detonators.

This week’s image “Rioghan the Search Dog,” uploaded to Flickr by SARhounds.

Episode 64: sLowlife

admin — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:01:55 +0000

Plants are not the silent, stationary creatures we imagine them to be. They drift, stretch, and dance in search of nutrients, water, and sunlight. Inspired by sLowlife, a dynamic multimedia exhibit now on display in the Clifford C. Hach Gallery at the Chemical Heritage Foundation, today’s show looks at the chemistry behind plant growth and movement. We’ll also talk with Amy Stewart, bestselling author of Flower Confidential: The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful. Her new book, Wicked Plants: A Book of Botanical Atrocities, will be published May 5. Chemical Agent: Photosynthesis.

sLowlife will be at CHF through December 2009. Admission is free. For hours and visitor information, click here.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:00 Chemical Agent: Photosynthesis
03:02 A conversation with Amy Stewart
08:19 Mystery Solved! Tropisms
11:10 Closing Credits

Credits

This show was written and researched by Audra Wolfe.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music includes ”I Grow My Flowers for You,” by Melou, and ”Wild Flower,” by The Serotonin Anvil.

This week’s image is from sLowlife. sLowlife is a collaborative project of the United States Botanical Garden, the Chicago Botanical Garden, and Roger Hangarter, Indiana University. Additional support was provided by Indiana University, the National Science Foundation, and the American Society of Plant Biologists.

Episode 63: Biofuel

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:01:34 +0000

Fossil fuel has gotten us into all sorts of trouble lately. Gas production and consumption has caused international conflict, wrecked havoc on our planet, and lightened our wallets at the gas pump. Why not turn to plants? They get their energy from the sun; and with a little smart science, they can pass on their clean green energy to our cars. In this episode producer Catherine Girardeau takes us to San Francisco and Tempe, Arizona, where researchers rely on abundant sunshine to grow marine life that can be turned into fuel. And we’ll get the recipe for making biodiesel out of leftover cooking oil. Chemical Agent: Cellulose.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:24 Chemical Agent: Cellulose
04:01 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Biodiesel
06:52 Feature: Algae as Fuel
11:00 Closing Credits

Resources and References

For everything you want to know about biodiesel, including how to make it, where to buy it, and the latest news, visit the National Biodiesel Board.

For a digest of information and articles on biodiesel, including debate over the ethanol, visit the New York Times’s special topic section.

Visit Solazyme to learn more about their quest to turn marine microbes into renewable energy.

Credits

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is: ”Paparazzi French Fries,” by Schmee, and ”Soma Magnet,” by Pablo Perez.

This week’s image shows algae tubes in Milton Sommerfield’s lab at Arizona State University. Photograph provided by Rene Gutel.

New Broadcasting Schedule

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:01:29 +0000

For over a year now, a new episode of Distillations has appeared each Friday. Unfortunately, like many endowment-based nonprofits, the Chemical Heritage Foundation now finds itself in challenging financial circumstances. In order to continue to produce the show as long as possible, we are shifting to a biweekly distribution schedule. Look for new programs on biofuels, plants, pets, and more every other Friday, starting February 27.

We want to take this opportunity to thank our loyal listeners and ask for your continued support. If you enjoy the show, please consider making a donation to support CHF. Your gifts make our public programming possible.

Audra Wolfe
Executive Producer

Episode 62: Chemical Romance

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:01:35 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day this weekend, and love is in the air. We won’t even bother trying to understand the laws of human attraction. Instead let’s learn how atoms find each other with an examination of chemical bonds. We chat with Alan Rocke, Henry Eldridge Bourne Professor of History at Case Western Reserve University. Rocke enlightens us on past scientific theories on the ways that materials joined in molecular union. And we examine ozone. Until recently, humans did not fully understand our own powers of destruction when it came to this important molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. Chemical Agent: Free Radicals.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:05 Chemical Agent: Free Radicals
02:56 A conversation with Alan Rocke
08:19 Mystery Solved: The Ozone Hole
11:19 Closing Credits

Resources and References

Visit NASA’s website for information on its Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer.

Learn more about free radicals and how they affect your health here.

For a detailed examination of the political and scientific controversy on the ozone hole, read Stephen C. Zehr’s article, “Accounting for the Ozone Hole: Scientific Representations of an Anomaly and Prior Incorrect Claims in a Public Setting,” in the Sociological Quarterly, August 7, 2008

Credits

This show was written and researched by Hilary Domush and Eleanor Goldberg.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is: ”snowfall,” by rada, and ”Sense of Snow,” by Andrew Gaskins.

This week’s image is from istock.com, provided by Nicole Cioe.

Episode 61: Space Science

admin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:01:36 +0000

Space, the Final Frontier! Mention the chemistry of space and you’re likely to hear bad jokes about Tang or the behavior of liquids in zero gravity. But it turns out that there’s an entire field—astrochemistry—dedicated to understanding the chemistry of the universe. Astrochemists investigate the matter that makes up the stars, the planets, and the vastness of interstellar space. The closely related field of astrobiology investigates both the possibilites for life in space and the origins of life here on earth. On today’s show we talk with Stefanie Milam, a research associate with the SETI Institute, about the kinds of molecules found in space and what they can tell us about the possibilities of life beyond earth. We also explore how radio telescopes like the ones pictured above transform chemical information into images of the universe. Chemical Agent: Panspermia.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
00:56 Chemical Agent: Panspermia
03:11 A conversation with Stefanie Milam
08:11 Tools of the Trade: Radio telescopes
11:15 Closing Credits

Resources and References

Find out more about science in space from NASA’s astrobiology program and its astrochemistry progam.
Our own executive producer, Audra Wolfe, has written on panspermia and the origins of exobiology. See Audra J. Wolfe, “Germs in Space: Joshua Lederberg, Exobiology, and the Public Imagination,” Isis 93 (2002): 183–205.
Watch videos, listen to podcasts, and see more images taken by and of the Very Large Array radio telescope site at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory homepage.

Credits

This show was written and researched by Audra Wolfe.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is: ”Colors Lost,” by Ichiro Nakagawa, and ”Pangalatic Glasstree,” by spheric lounge.

This week’s image is of the Very Large Array radio telescope site in New Mexico, and is courtesy of NRAO/AUI. For details, see the NRAO Image Use Policy.

Episode 60: Professional Networks

vindivero — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:01:28 +0000

Today Distillations is finding out more about professional networks—particularly in the field of chemistry. First we learn about chemistry sets, like the one shown on the left, and the types of chemicals that were once included in these sets. Many chemists today claim that their interest in science was piqued by the chemistry set they played with as a child. Next we look at imaging software and how it has changed the way chemists share information—making it much easier. Finally, we talk to Michael Gordin, a history of science professor at Princeton University. Gordin explains how professional scientific communities are formed. Chemical Agent: Sodium Cyanide.

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Download (10.7 MB MP3 file)

Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:12 Chemical Agent: Sodium Cyanide
03:21 Tools of the Trade: Imaging Software
06:13 A conversation with Michael Gordin
10:58 Closing Credits

Resources and References

Check out a slideshow of chemsitry sets from CHF’s very own collection.
To learn more about Michael Gordin’s work, take a look at his book A Well-Ordered Thing: Dmitrii Mendeleev and the Shadow of the Periodic Table.

Credits

Special thanks to Jennifer Dionisio, Hilary Domush, and Eleanor Goldberg for researching and writing this episode.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is: ”The Landing,” by Fang Island; “First Snow,” by Jack Erdie; and “Village Song by David Popper,” by Cello Journey.

This week’s image is from CHF’s own Flickr site.