How do scientists explain what they do to the larger public, and how can historians help? In this first episode of Distillations, we explore this question by looking at phlogiston, an obsolete element once thought to explain combustion.

SHOW CLOCK

00:00 Opening Credits

00:42 The periodic table

01:52 Element of the Week: Phlogiston

04:02 Interview with Paul Smith, director of lecture demonstrations in the department of chemistry, Purdue University

09:16 Quote of the week: Primo Levi

09:43 Closing Credits

CREDITS

Special thanks to Anke Timmermann for researching this show. Additional credits available at sciencehistory.org.