The Disappearing Spoon podcast
The Sadder Side of the Nobel Prizes
How did a scientist who developed a Nobel Prize–worthy idea end up driving a shuttle van for a living and miss the award completely?
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.
The Scientific Way to Fool a Nazi
Physicist György Hevesy had a talent for tricks and stunts—including one that prevented Nazi storm troopers from stealing a Nobel Prize.
The Mysterious Mote
This bonus episode highlights an excerpt from Ferris Jabr’s book Becoming Earth.
The Science of D-Day
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings during WWII, we look at the surprisingly important role science played.
Can Plastic Surgery Keep You Out of Prison?
One doctor’s controversial crusade to keep people out of prison through nose jobs, eye lifts, and other plastic surgery.
The Russian Roswell
In 1959, nine Russian hikers mysteriously died on a snowy trek known as the Dyatlov Pass incident. Has science finally cracked the case?
When Tenure Means Life and Death
After a tenure dispute, engineer Valery Fabrikant murdered four colleagues. So why is he still allowed to publish scientific papers?
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.
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.