Self-Experimentation
Series: Distillations - The Chemistry Podcast
From: Chemical Heritage Foundation
Length: 00:11:55
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- Self-Experimentation
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- Chemical Heritage Foundation
In this episode we delve into the world of experimenting on oneself. Many scientists have both knowingly and unknowingly used themselves as guinea pigs in the lab. Marie and Pierre Curie, discoverers of radium, are examples of the self-sacrificing scientist. We learn more about the Curies and others in this episode. Then we speak to Rebecca Herzig, a professor at Bates College in Maine and the author of Suffering for Science: Reason and Sacrifice in Modern America. And finally, we take a look at the latest trend at the pharmacy?home DNA test kits. Element of the Week: Radium.
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
In this episode we delve into the world of experimenting on oneself. Many scientists have both knowingly and unknowingly used themselves as guinea pigs in the lab. Marie and Pierre Curie, discoverers of radium, are examples of the self-sacrificing scientist. We learn more about the Curies and others in this episode. Then we speak to Rebecca Herzig, a professor at Bates College in Maine and the author of Suffering for Science: Reason and Sacrifice in Modern America. And finally, we take a look at the latest trend at the pharmacy?home DNA test kits. Element of the Week: Radium.
Broadcast History
Distributed as podcast 9/19/08.
Transcript
DISTILLATIONS EPISODE 42: SELF EXPERIMENTATION
0:00 UP THEME MUSIC
Hello, and welcome to Distillations ? weekly extracts from the past, present and future of chemistry. I?m Meir Rinde. On today?s show we?re taking a stab at self-experimentation. We?ll speak with an expert of the history of self-testing, and learn why you may not want to trust an over-the-counter DNA test.
That?s all coming up on today?s episode of Distillations. [:30 with music]
MONOLOGUE
Entomologist Justin Schmidt is no armchair theorist. To come up with his four-point ?pain index? for bee and wasp stings, he worked from experience ? noting his own physical response to a range of insect bites. The sweat bee ? at the lower end of the pain scale, feels ?Light, ephemeral, almost fruity.? While a yellow jacket ? pain point 2 ? feels ?Hot and smoky, almost irreverent.? This kind of elaborate description would...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
00:00 Opening Credits
00:32 Introduction
01:23 Element of the Week: Radium
03:03 Conversation with Rebecca Herzig
08:04 Chemistry in your Cupboard: Home DNA Test Kits
10:51 Quote: Edwin Emory Slosson
11:14 Closing Credits
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