DR. HENRY K. BEECHER
The Placebo Effect
Episode 59
May 20, 2026
Your mind can be a powerful drug, but when (if ever) is it ethical to choose mind over matter? Aarati tells the story of an army doctor who observed the placebo effect in soldiers and then went on to transform how we conduct clinical trials.
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DR. JOHN B. GOODENOUGH
Lithium-ion Batteries
Episode 57
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From laptops to cell phones to electric cars, our modern world runs on lithium-ion batteries. Aarati tells the story of one of the scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating lightweight, rechargeable, batteries. ​​
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DR. TETSUYA "TED" FUJITA
Mr. Tornado
Episode 56
April 8, 2026
On June 24, 1975, Eastern Airlines 66 mysteriously crashed when attempting to land at JFK airport. Authorities called in Mr. Tornado to investigate. Aarati tells the story of Dr. Ted Fujita, who analyzed the destruction from severe storms and gave us a scale to quantify tornados.
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