A weekly tour of the periodic table, from Chemistry World, the magazine of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
http://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts
Favipiravir
Originally developed to treat flu and marketed in Japan as Avigan, promising Covid-19 trial results have seen countries stockpiling this medication by the millions
Tannic acid
Tannic acid in green acorns can kill wild animals and livestock, but in this podcast Mike Freemantle makes plain that you can prevent poisoning with pannage pigs.
Ractopamine
Common in the US but banned in the EU, this animal feed additive makes for muscular pigs and beefy international trade disputes.
2AP (2-acetyl-1-pyrroline)
Frances Addison on the aromatic compound found in both buttered popcorn and the bearcat’s scent glands, and responsible for the distinctive smell of both
Dexamethasone
News that this cheap, ubiquitous steroid drug may reduce deaths in Covid-19 cases has been greeted with cautious optimism. Ben Valsler looks at the history of dexamethasone and the promising Recovery trial results.
Porcelain
Mike Freemantle on the art, history and science of this delicate, translucent ceramic material
Feldspar
Brian Clegg introduces the humble mineral that delights both astronomers and archaeologists
Cimetidine
Mike Freemantle introduces the peptic ulcer treatment cimetidine, which – as Tagamet – became the first 'blockbuster' drug
Fexinidazole
The World Health Organisation hope to eradicate human African trypanosomiasis, better known as sleeping sickness, within our lifetimes. Jamie Durrani looks at a drug that may make it possible.