October 2008
Monthly Archive
Episode 47: Making Up
Friday 31 Oct 2008
Happy Halloween from Distillations! This week we’re looking at the world of cosmetics, which seems fitting for a day when many people wear makeup who might not normally. First we learn about kohl, an eyeliner that dates back centuries. Then we talk with Rodger Curren, president of the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, who was recently at CHF for a conference about the Cosmetics Directive in the EU. And finally, CHF’s Jen Dionisio and Audra Wolfe visit the Environmental Working Group’s online database, Skin Deep, to learn about the cosmetics products they use. Element of the Week: Lead.
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Show Clock
00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:08 Element of the Week: Lead
03:02 Conversation with Rodger Curren
07:12 Cosmetics Database Report
11:23 Closing Credits
Resources and References
Check out the online database Jen and Audra explored: Skin Deep.
An introduction to REACH, from the European Union, discussed in the interview with Rodger Curren.
The Distillations episode, Spring Cleaning, takes a closer look at the EU’s approach to chemical regulation with producer Jori Lewis.
Credits
Special thanks go to Jen Dionisio for researching the show.
Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is “Restless Spirits – Underscore – Halloween 2,” by Film Composer – David Beard, “Egyptian Nightmare II,” by Dreamline, “halloween,” by retail, and “Halloween,” by CART!.
This week’s image was uploaded to stock.xchng by rafado4.
Posted in Society No Comments
Episode 46: Charging Up
Friday 24 Oct 2008
The first cars didn’t run on gas—they ran on electricity. Over a century later, the high cost of fuel has finally forced automakers to take the possibility of battery-powered cars seriously. On today’s show we look at three kinds of batteries that have been proposed as transportation solutions. We start with nickel hydride batteries, the key component of contemporary hybrid cars like Toyota’s Prius. Next, we look at the technology behind hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Producer Devin Browne wraps up the show with an exclusive visit to GM’s battery lab in Warren, Michigan, for a close-up look at the future of lithium-ion battery cars. Element of the Week: Nickel.
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Show Clock
00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:13 Element of the Week: Nickel
03:08 Mystery Solved! Hydrogen fuel-cell cars
06:38 GM’s lithium-ion battery lab
11:13 Closing Credits
Resources and References
We learned about the Electrovan from “An Electrovan, Not an Edsel,” The New York Times 17 November 2002.
For information on fuel cells, we relied on G. Hoogers, Fuel Cell Technology Handbook (Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2003).
You can learn more about electric car batteries from this online article.
For information on the development of the Chevrolet Volt, visit the company’s official home page.
Credits
Special thanks go to Chi Chan for researching the show.
Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network and the Internet Archive. Additional music is “Fire and Ice,” by Briareus, “Delorian,” by The Atomica Project, “Moving Picture,” by JayDenton, “Preschool 2040,” by Podcast Troubadour, “Pure Imagination,” from the Willy Wonka Soundtrack, “At Sundown,” by Artie Shaw, and “allmyfriendslistentoelectro,” by DJ Scratchin’.
This week’s image is a publicity shot of the Chevrolet Volt, by GM.
Episode 45: Making Modernity
Friday 17 Oct 2008This week we celebrate the opening of the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s new museum! First, we take a look at the periodic table as a whole and how it came to be recognized in its current form. Be sure to check out the YouTube video above, which showcases just one of the many videos on the elements available for viewing in CHF’s museum. Then we learn about the Technicon Autoanalyzer, an instrument that may have helped bring about the second scientific revolution. Finally, CHF curator Erin McLeary takes us on a tour of the permanent exhibit in the museum, Making Modernity. Element of the Week: The Periodic Table.
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Show Clock
00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:04 Element of the Week: The Periodic Table
03:06 Tools of the Trade: Technicon Autoanalyzer
06:13 Tour of new Making Modernity exhibit
11:18 Closing Credits
Resources and References
For more on the periodic table, check out PeriodicTable.com.
Go here to find out more about CHF’s museum and collections.
Credits
Special thanks go to Erin McLeary for researching the show.
Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is “Sleeping,” by cd and “Big Green Coffee Cup,” by The Dave Morford Hostage Crisis. Also, “The Elements,” by Tom Lehrer, from the Internet Archive.
Bromine video (c) 2008 Theodore Gray & RGB Research, periodictable.com.
Posted in History, Society, Technology 1 Comment
Episode 44: Sweet Dreams
Friday 10 Oct 2008
There’s nothing quite like a good night’s rest to recharge the body and restore the spirits. Today’s show looks at the science of sleep—and insomnia. We start off with the sun’s role in establishing human biorhythms. Next, we look at modern medicine’s approach to the ancient problem of snoring. Producer Catherine Giradeau wraps up the show with a piece on caffeine, the unregulated wonder drug that can perk you up or knock you out. Element of the Week: Helium.
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Show Clock
00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:28 Element of the Week: Helium
03:15 Mystery Solved! Snoring
06:44 Caffeine and Wakefulness
10:38 Quote: C. S. Lewis
11:02 Closing Credits
Resources and References
For more on the Green god Helios, see this entry in the ever-useful Encyclopedia Mythica.
We learned more about seasonal affective disorder from the Mayo Clinic.
Take a tour of the Museum of Snoring.
This detailed article from Scientific American filled us in on the dangers of snoring.
Credits
Special thanks go to Anke Timmermann for researching the show.
Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is “Awasoruk,” by Adhesion, “Lion Sleeps No More,” by Amaryoni, “Le rêve de Zeus,” by Drum and Didje Group (Paris), “Sleep,” by Hip Hop Anonymous, “Coffeesong,” by Francisco Daum, and “Cold Coffee,” by Roddy Gordon.
This week’s image was uploaded by to stock.xchng by ukapala.
Posted in Society 2 Comments
