We are marking the one year anniversary of Distillations this week! To celebrate we’re looking back at the year 2008 and its noteworthy occasions. First we learn about boron, whose 200th birthday was this year. Next up is the Nobel Prize. This year’s Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three men who discovered the green fluorescent protein. And finally we find out what you, our listeners, thought was the most important chemical moment of the 2008, according to our survey. Element of the Week: Boron.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:31 Introduction
01:07 Element of the Week: Boron
03:20 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
06:49 The Most Significant Chemical Moment of 2008
10:20 Closing Credits

Resources and References

Check out this Chemical Explorers video, all about your top pick for most important chemical moment of 2008.
For more information on boron, see the Los Alamos National Labs web site.
Also of interest is this January 2008 article in the New Scientist about boron nanotubes.
If you want to learn more about the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, or any other Nobel Prize, visit the Nobel Prize web site.

Credits

Special thanks go to Eleanor Goldberg and Chi Chan for researching the show.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is “Happy Birthday,” by Craymo and ”Green,” by Ambient Light.

This week’s photo is by Don White, courtesy of MIT. The image depicts the new catalyst that MIT researchers discovered this year which creates carbon-free electricity.

Happy holidays to all our listeners!

Thanks to J. J. Thomson’s plum pudding model of the atom, chemistry will be forever associated with 19th-century British Christmas traditions. His model was soon discarded, but it remains a staple of high school chemistry textbooks. On today’s episode, we introduce a new segment, “Tools of the Trade,” that looks at the  models, instruments, and artifacts—whether still in use or long discarded—that help scientists do their jobs. We also visit with Emilio Mignucci, one of the owners of Philadelphia’s famous DiBruno Brothers gourmet foods shop, to find out the story behind ham, that favorite holiday food. Element of the Week: Tin.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:10 Element of the Week: Tin
02:47 Tools of the Trade: Plum Pudding
05:41 Feature: Ham
10:47 Closing Credits

Resources and References

Learn more about J. J. Thomson and other atomic theorists at the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s Chemical Achievers site.
Explore historic recipes, like this one for plum pudding, at Michigan State University’s Feeding America online cookbook project.
We found about the history of toys from this charming site from the Hampshire County Council.
The ever-useful Web Elements site has basic information on all the elements, including tin.

Credits

Special thanks go to Hilary Domush, Anke Timmermann, and Eleanor Goldberg for researching the show.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is “Little Drummer Dude,” by Charlie Crowe, “Carol of the Bells,” by Doug Astrop, and  ”Joy-Kinda Holiday-ish,” by Charlie Crowe.

The illustration is a stylized model of J. J. Thomson’s plum pudding model. John Woodcock© Dorling Kindersley. (Please note this image will be removed in 30 days.)

The truth behind the fake—this week Distillations explores the science of forgery. Some forgery is known and expected, such as fake meat products for vegetarians, while other fakes are meant to deceive…think imitated artists. First we learn about cubic zirconia, which has long been used to pass for diamonds. Turns out CZ is an interesting stone in its own right! Next up is TVP, or textured vegetable protein. This Chemistry in your Cupboard tells us all about soy as a meat substitute. And finally, producer Rebecca Sheir visits the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and their Scientific Research Laboratory. While there Rebecca finds out how forgery in art can be detected. Element of the Week: Zirconium.

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Show Clock

00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:22 Element of the Week: Zirconium
03:36 Chemistry in your Cupboard: Soy as Sirloin
06:32 Feature: Detecting Forgery in Art
11:26 Closing Credits

Resources and References

Find out more about cubic zirconia on the Geology Rocks web site.
The Los Angeles Times ran an informative article, “Cubic’s Rubes,” on 18 December 1981.
We also found the January 2003 issue of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods quite helpful, with an entire section dedicated to Soy Solutions.

Credits

Special thanks go to Erin McLeary and Audra Wolfe for researching the show.

Our theme music is composed by Dave Kaufman. Additional music from the PodSafe Music Network. Additional music is “A Lot Like Diamonds,” by A Beautiful Curse, “blackbeans,” by Francisco Daum, and “detective double bass,” by lastfuture.

This week’s photo was taken by Julianna Tilton and was downloaded from 123RF.com.

There’s still time to tell us your pick for the most signficiant chemical moment of 2008. Vote here!