Science History Institute

10/20/2026

🤔 Are long COVID myths rooted in misogyny?

Many of us have heard of Long COVID, but few of us understand the depth and breadth of the diagnosis or the history leading up to it. We talk with medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall about her book on invisible illnesses and what happens when medical symptoms are hard to explain. 

In the latest Distillations episode, we discuss why patients are dismissed and how the history of hysteria, neurasthenia, and chronic fatigue syndrome all contribute to Long COVID denialism.

Tap the link in bio to listen now.

10/06/2026

In their just published paper, “Photograph 49 Is the Key to Understanding the History of Rosalind Franklin’s DNA Photograph 51,” Alistair Sponsel, oral historian and curator of life sciences at the Science History Institute, and Brian Sutton, an X-ray crystallographer and emeritus professor of biophysics at King’s College London, uncover why Franklin and her graduate student Raymond Gosling took the famed X-ray image that became one of the most significant photos in the history of science.

Science History Institute has the story:

Paper by the Science History Institute’s Alistair Sponsel and King’s College London’s Brian Sutton uncovers the significance of her previously captured 'Photo 49.'

10/06/2026

🔈“Turn on. Tune in. Drop out.”

If you’ve ever read anything about the history of psychedelics, the name Timothy Leary will probably sound familiar. He was a Harvard psychologist who researched psychedelics within academia before getting fired in 1963 and taking his experiments underground. But you might never have heard of Timothy’s wife, Rosemary Woodruff Leary. 

In the latest Distillations podcast episode, we talk with author Susannah Cahalan Susannah Cahalan about her book on Rosemary and how she played a quiet but foundational role in our early understanding of L*D.

😵‍💫 Tap the link in bio or visit sciencehistory.org to listen now!

10/01/2026

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! We're celebrating this month by inviting you to explore our collection of scientific biographies featuring Hispanic and Latino scientists and historians who have made immeasurable contributions to their fields. ⁠
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🌱 Meet Francisco Hernández, a Spanish physician and natural historian who led the first European state-sponsored scientific expedition to the Americas in the 1570s. He traveled throughout Mexico (then New Spain), collecting the region’s plants, animals, and history. His work reflects the nature of early imperial science: he sought not only to understand the natural world, but also to exploit it.⁠
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One particularly intense debate in 17th-century Europe concerned the biological nature of cochineal, a vibrant red dye that was one of Spain’s most profitable exports from their American territories. Examine the attached letter and the recipient’s response. Was it an insect or a seed? ⁠
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🌎️ Tap the link below to read Francisco Hernández's full scientific biography.

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The Spanish physician and natural historian led the first European state-sponsored scientific expedition to the Americas in the 1570s.

09/24/2026

We are excited to participate in Project 76, an initiative from local nonprofit -Reach aimed at making Philadelphia the most accessible city for cultural arts engagement. ⁠
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Through Project 76, Art-Reach is providing comprehensive accessibility plans to 76 organizations in and around the region to help ensure these spaces are inclusive, safe, and welcoming for visitors with disabilities. But we need your help! ⁠
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We invite you to take Art-Reach's visitor assessment survey and share your perspective on accessibility at the Institute to help us identify areas of greatest need. Participation in the survey is anonymous and takes about 15 minutes to complete. ⁠
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The deadline to complete the survey is October 9. To participate, please visit sciencehistory.org/survey. Thank you for your participation!⁠
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Photo by Meredith Edlow.

09/22/2026

🎙️This week, Distillations is back with a new podcast episode: Ci******es in America, Part 2: The Reckoning⁠
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Ci******es: they provide no nutrition and quench no thirst. They serve no purpose other than being an excuse to take a break from the grind before getting right back to it. And on top of that, they’re deadly. ⁠
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As far as American vices go, they might be at the top of the list. So how did they get and stay popular for so long? And why are they making a comeback?⁠
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🚬 Tap the link in below to listen now. Or check us out on you favorite streaming platform.

➡️https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/distillations-pod/ci******es-in-america-the-rise-and-the-reckoning/

09/16/2026

🎙️The Science History Institute's critically acclaimed podcast Distillations is back with a brand new season! ⁠
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The Distillations team is excited to launch "American Vice" which takes listeners from ci******es and alcohol, to fireworks and L*D with weekly episodes dropping every Tuesday. ⁠
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This eight-episode season will dive deep into our appetite for risk, how science plays a role in it, and how it has shaped the American experience. American Vice also features three video episodes—new for this season!—with author Susannah Cahalan, medical anthropologist Emily Mendenhall, and environmental writer and historian Jayson Porter.⁠
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Check out the first episode of American Vice now on our website or wherever you stream your podcasts.⁠
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In this two-part episode, we're diving into the rise of a quintessential American product, ci******es. You'll hear about the science that proved it was dangerous, and the eventual reckoning that came from a mysterious box of documents—one delivered with the return address of an iconic cartoon character. Along the way, we’ll uncover what has driven so many Americans to risk their lives to light up despite what the science has told us.⁠

➡ ⁠https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/distillations-pod/ci******es-in-america-the-rise-and-the-reckoning/

09/10/2026

Travel back to the time of Uranium Mania...⁠
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When beauty queens won piles of ore and prospectors combed the West for a Mesa miracle.⁠
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☢️ Tap the link below to dig into the latest Distillations story written by Philadelphia-based freelance journalist, Ben Seal. ⁠

The post-World War II mining rush that transformed a region.

09/08/2026

Next Wednesday, September 16, join The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Science History Institute as we host the second Gender Minorities in the Sciences Panel.⁠
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This panel brings scientists together to share their experiences and strategies for advancing equity and inclusion in STEM across gender-diverse communities. ⁠
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It will also serve as an opportunity for networking, community building, and fostering meaningful dialogue about creating an inclusive workplace that emphasizes diversity, equity, access, and leadership for all.⁠
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Meet our panelists:⁠
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Akilah Chatman (they/them) — Community Science Specialist, Academy of Natural Sciences⁠
Tanya Dapkey (she/her) — Freshwater Ecologist & Entomologist⁠
Tia Lyles-Williams (she/her) — Biotechnology Entrepreneur & CEO, LucasPye BIO⁠
Melanie R. Nilsson (they/them or she/her) — Associate Professor of Chemistry, McDaniel College⁠
Alexis J. Pedrick (she/her) — Chief Storyteller & Podcast Host, Science History Institute⁠
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📅 Wednesday, September 16 | 6–8 pm⁠
📍 Science History Institute or online⁠
🎟️ Free admission but registration is requested⁠
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Learn more here ➡️ https://www.sciencehistory.org/visit/events/gender-minorities-in-the-sciences-panel/

09/03/2026

This fall, the Science History Institute invites you to explore our new permanent exhibition, Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850). ⁠
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Centuries ago, alchemists sought to uncover nature’s “secrets” and unlock the hidden potential of matter. They pursued healing elixirs, searched for the legendary philosophers’ stone, and tested the possibility that one substance could be transformed into another—pursuing, most famously, the elusive transformation of lead into gold.⁠
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This exhibition draws on the museum and library’s extensive collection of European paintings and rare books to transport visitors back to a time when chemistry was chymistry, when alchemists explored the transformation of matter through experimentation, secrecy, and coded language. ⁠
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On October 7, join us for An Alchemical Affair: A ‘Fire and Gold’ Opening Celebration from 5pm to 8pm at 315 Chestnut Street in Old City Philadelphia. Registration is required for this free event, which features a curator’s talk, exhibition tours, alchemy-themed activities, light refreshments, and more. Space is limited.⁠
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Visit sciencehistory.org/fireandgold or tap the link below to register.⁠
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Fire and Gold: The Art of Alchemy (1450–1850) has been made possible by the generous support of Barry Arkles and Janine Black.

A new permanent exhibition featuring paintings and rare books exploring the quest to uncover nature’s secrets and unlock the potential of matter.