94 episodes

A topsy-turvy science-y history podcast, brought to you by the Science History Institute.

The Disappearing Spoon: a science history podcast with Sam Kean Sam Kean

    • History
    • 3.9 • 1.2K Ratings

A topsy-turvy science-y history podcast, brought to you by the Science History Institute.

    Can Plastic Surgery Keep You out of Prison?

    Can Plastic Surgery Keep You out of Prison?

    One doctor’s controversial crusade to keep men and women out of prison through nose jobs, eye lifts, and other plastic surgery.


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    • 20 min
    The Russian Roswell

    The Russian Roswell

    In 1959, nine Russian hikers mysteriously died on a trek through the snowy wilderness—fueling a half-century of hysterical conspiracies. Has science finally cracked the case?


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    • 21 min
    When Tenure Means Life and Death

    When Tenure Means Life and Death

    After a tenure dispute, mechanical engineer Valery Fabrikant murdered four colleagues in cold blood at his university in Montreal. So why is he still allowed to publish scientific papers?


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    • 20 min
    A Deadly Soup for Babies

    A Deadly Soup for Babies

    Chemist Justus von Liebig was perhaps the most famous scientist in the world in the mid-1800s—but quickly became infamous for his role in the killing of four starving infants.


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    • 20 min
    How the “Worst Serial Killer in Holland’s History” Went Free

    How the “Worst Serial Killer in Holland’s History” Went Free

    Patient after patient died under the care of a single nurse in Holland. So why did so many statisticians think Lucia de Berk was innocent?


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    • 20 min
    The Eclipse that Killed a King

    The Eclipse that Killed a King

    Rama IV of Siam (from the “King and I” musical) used an eclipse to save his kingdom from greedy colonial powers. But it cost him his own life in the end.


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    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5
1.2K Ratings

1.2K Ratings

Sank63 ,

Good podcast, but have your ad skip button handy you’ll need it.

Interesting and well produced podcast. Stories are intriguing and the narrator is excellent. But the ads are out of control. Four to six minutes per episode. Set your fast forward to a minute.

Chachados ,

Wowzers!

I’ve been listening for awhile and I always wonder where does he find his ideas for shows. I love the way science is made even more interesting with his additional info.

blueoctavia ,

Love this podcast!

I’ve been a fan of Sam Kean’s work for years. Science is not my best subject, and science history can often be a bit dry, but Sam is amazing at sharing the history of science in a fun and interesting way. This podcast and all his books are wonderful!

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