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Episode 76: Working Class Chemistry

Friday 28 Aug 2009 Bookmark & Share Bookmark & Share

WelderIn 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.

Posted in History, Society 1 Comment

Episode 65: Going to the Dogs

Friday 27 Mar 2009 Bookmark & Share Bookmark & Share

Rioghan the Search Dog by SARhoundsA 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.

Listen Listen now (streaming file)
Download icon Download (9.96 MB MP3 file)

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.

Posted in Society No Comments