Season 2 · Episode 28
The Apothecary Diaries · S2E28
Aired on January 31, 2025
Science entries in this episode
Bear Bile
Its ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) dissolves some gallstones and protects the liver. Now made synthetically, it is on the WHO essential medicines list.
False Pregnancy
A swollen belly, missing periods, milk without pregnancy: The Apothecary Diaries describes pseudocyesis. The hormonal and psychological mechanism.
The Glass Mirror
Why does a glass mirror give a far sharper image than polished bronze? The history of Venetian silvering and the chemistry of mirror-making.