On the 90-year saga of oral phenylephrine.

On the origins of Arabidopsis thaliana, the premier model for plant biology.

In a little over a century, the electron microscope evolved from a tool barely capable of resolving virus particles into one able to capture atomic detail.

Bioengineers commonly view microbes as reprogrammable “cellular factories” for manufacturing high-value molecules. But what are we throwing away?

How a liver goes from a brain-dead donor to a living recipient.

An update on a forthcoming book from Asimov Press, which will delve into the origins of the machines, equipment, organisms, and reagents that have become familiar features of molecular biology laboratories over the last sixty years.

There has been a push toward animal-free alternatives in scientific research. But the success of such alternatives hinges upon whether and where they can outperform standard animal models.

In 4,000 years, cataract surgery went from a crude procedure involving thorn instruments to a 20-minute operation with a 95 percent clinical success rate. The next step is broadening access.

The Spotify version of today’s episode can be found at this link.