The Chemistry of Motherhood
From: Chemical Heritage Foundation
Series: Distillations - The Chemistry Podcast
Length: 12:09
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- The Chemistry of Motherhood
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- Chemical Heritage Foundation
What makes motherhood scientific? This week, we try to answer, with a look at changing attitudes about mothers, pregnancy, and science. We explore the history of pregnancy tests, and what that has to do with South African clawed frogs. Janet Golden, an expert on fetal alcohol syndrome, joins us to talk about how ideas have changed regarding pregnant women and what they should and shouldn?t consume. And we learn about Marie Curie and her daughters?one a scientist, the other a writer. Element of the Week: Curium.
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Piece Description
What makes motherhood scientific? This week, we try to answer, with a look at changing attitudes about mothers, pregnancy, and science. We explore the history of pregnancy tests, and what that has to do with South African clawed frogs. Janet Golden, an expert on fetal alcohol syndrome, joins us to talk about how ideas have changed regarding pregnant women and what they should and shouldn?t consume. And we learn about Marie Curie and her daughters?one a scientist, the other a writer. Element of the Week: Curium.
Broadcast History
Podcast posted 7/12/08.
Transcript
0:00 UP THEME MUSIC
Hello, and welcome to Distillations ? weekly extracts from the past, present and future of chemistry. I?m Robert Hicks. Each week we bring you stories on all things chemical ? from carbon black to kids. In this week?s show we?re talking about motherhood. We?ll learn about pregnancy tests, and the first family of radioactivity. And we?ll talk to an expert on fetal alcohol syndrome.
That?s all coming up on today?s episode of Distillations.
MONOLOGUE
The United States is in the midst of a baby boomlet. In 2006 the fertility rate reached 2.1, the highest it?s been since 1971. The US now has a higher fertility rate that most industrialized nations, including Canada, Australia, Japan, and every country in Europe. That means there are a lot of pregnant women in the US right now. On today?s show we're taking a closer look at the chemistry of motherhood. Where be...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:06 Element of the Week: Curium
03:43 A Conversation with Janet Golden
07:55 Chemistry in Your Cupboard: Home Pregnancy Tests
11:07 Quote: Katharine Whitehorn
11:29 Closing Credits
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