The Disappearing Spoon podcast
A Deadly Soup for Babies
World famous 19th-century chemist Justus von Liebig quickly became infamous for his role in the killing of four starving infants.
The Disappearing Spoon is Distillations’ sister podcast, hosted by best-selling author Sam Kean. The show examines overlooked stories from our past, such as the dental superiority of hunter-gatherers, the sex lives of dinosaurs, and many more moments that never made the history books. When the footnote becomes the real story, small moments become surprisingly powerful.
How the ‘Worst Serial Killer in Holland’s History’ Went Free
Patient after patient died under the care of a single nurse. Why did so many statisticians think she was innocent?
The Eclipse That Killed a King
Rama IV of Siam used an eclipse to save his kingdom from greedy colonial powers. But it cost him his life.
When Generosity Turns Pathological
One man’s brain damage transformed him into a selfless giver. What does his case say about the biological roots of generosity?
The Sex-Cult ‘Antichrist’ Who Rocketed Us to Space: Part 2
Sam Kean continues the wild story of rocket scientist/devil worshipper Jack Parsons in the second episode of this two-part series.
The Sex-Cult ‘Antichrist’ Who Rocketed Us to Space: Part 1
Jack Parsons practiced the occult and led a sex cult. He was also one of history’s most important rocket scientists.
Was Charles Darwin a Murderer?
Two men committed murder—and blamed the English naturalist. The aftermath solidified Darwin as the greatest scientist of his age.
Mass Psychosis in Food Science
Americans happily ate monosodium glutamate for decades, but one (fake?) letter sparked mass hysteria and the bogus MSG scare was born.
Accounting for Taste
Scientists have confirmed five basic human tastes. But is that all? Debate rages about adding other tastes to the Big Five.
If Indiana Jones Were a Swindler
James Mellaart discovered one of the most important archaeological sites ever. But his lust for treasure led him to lose it all.
The British Tobacco Empire
He was behind the rise of the British Empire, a public-health epidemic, and the lost colony of Roanoke Island. Thomas Harriot has a lot to answer for.
The Forgotten Mother of Penicillin
How “Moldy Mary” helped produce the lifesaving drug and turned an insult into a triumph.
The Most Exclusive Club in the World
As recent tragedies reveal, it’s harder to reach extreme ocean depths than the Moon. Meet the people who got there first—and barely lived to tell to the tale.
Death-Defying Science at 75,000 Feet
How balloon geek Auguste Piccard inspired Hollywood and became a worthy namesake for Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek fame.
Proving Einstein Right
Meet Arthur Eddington, the weirdo scientist who made Albert Einstein the genius we know today.
Einstein’s Golden Moment
It was the most powerful emotional moment of Albert Einstein’s life—the instant he knew he was a genius.
Everything You Know About Phineas Gage Is Wrong
What can a railroad construction foreman’s devastating skull injury teach us about the brain’s ability to heal?
Why Do We Obsess Over Charles Darwin’s Health?
People love to retro-diagnose historical figures, even when it’s nearly impossible.
The Seeds of Starvation
A scientific mystery straight out of an Agatha Christie novel.