The Disappearing Spoon podcast
Health & Medicine
Bodies, minds, and the things that help and harm them
The ‘Jake Leg’ Blues
A huge epidemic swept through America, affected tens of thousands of people, and then virtually vanished without a trace.
How Asbestos Fell from Grace
Before we knew it was deadly, this “wonder material” saved lives and remade the world.
Human Photosynthesis
Cod liver oil was an unpopular cure for rickets due to its nasty taste. Then scientists discovered a far simpler cure: going outside.
The Birds and the Bees and the Frogs
In the mid-1900s, the science of pregnancy prediction had a surprising helper: the Xenopus frog.
The Winter When People Ate Tulips
It’s the 80th anniversary of the Dutch Hongerwinter during World War II, which led to widespread starvation and an inadvertent breakthrough in treating deadly celiac disease.
Machiavellian Microbes
Parasites can force animals to do nefarious things by manipulating their minds—including, uncomfortably, the minds of human beings.
The Woman Who ‘Turned Back a Plague of Old Testament Proportions’
FDA scientist Frances Oldham Kelsey spared thousands of babies from deadly birth defects and revolutionized drug research. But was her legacy all good? It’s a complicated story.
The Mona Lisa of the Seine
A woman who drowned in Paris became one of the most famous faces in the world as the model for CPR dummies, saving millions of lives while remaining completely unknown.
When Mummy Mania Swept the World
In the 1800s, mummies found their way into everything from fertilizer to food, and were especially prized as medicine. Mummy mania was a strange time.
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 Forgotten Mother of Penicillin
How “Moldy Mary” helped produce the lifesaving drug and turned an insult into a triumph.
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.
When Scientific Brilliance Isn’t Enough
In medicine, going rogue is never a good idea.
The Enigmas of Foreign Accent Syndrome
Can you really collapse and wake up speaking a totally new language?