Distillations podcast

Deep Dives into Science Stories, Both Serious and Eccentric

ALS Patients Take on the FDA

Research on the deadly disease progressed dramatically after the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge, but a huge blow came when the most recent treatment was taken off the market.

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Distillations is the Science History Institute’s critically acclaimed flagship podcast. We take deep dives into stories that range from the serious to the eccentric, all to help listeners better understand our world. Hear about everything from the crisis in Alzheimer’s research to New England’s 19th-century vampire panic in compelling, sometimes-funny, documentary-style audio stories.

Painting of two men in an alchemical laboratory examining a flask.
Early Science & Alchemy

Science and the Supernatural in the 17th Century

Travel back in time with us and find out what the world was like when science and the supernatural weren’t so far apart.

Black and white photograph of men in suits sitting around table holding beers with two barrels in front. Writing on photo says "Nice to have been waited on."
Arts & Culture

Intoxication and Civilization: Beer’s Ancient Past

This episode takes on the frothy subject of beer, and explores the science, culture, and history behind the suds.

Photo of the Olympic rings with the sky in the background
Arts & Culture

Olympics

On today’s show, we investigate Olympic mysteries, from the flame of the torch to the composition of those so-called gold medals.

Photo of Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw standing in front of the Biocon building.
Health & Medicine

Wonder Drugs

From antibiotics to chemotherapy, modern pharmaceuticals transformed the experience of illness in the 20th century.

Engraving of Michael Faraday
Arts & Culture

Communicating Chemistry

How do scientists explain what they do to the larger public, and how can historians help?