Season 2 · Episode 45
The Apothecary Diaries · S2E45
Aired on May 30, 2025
Science entries in this episode
Diapause and Hibernation
In The Apothecary Diaries, snakes numbed by the cold let Maomao act safely. We explain torpor, hibernation, and diapause.
Elixirs of Immortality
Cinnabar, mercury, arsenic: Chinese waidan alchemy sought eternal life in poisons. The alchemists' logic, what mercury does to the brain, and who died of it.
Hypothermia
In The Apothecary Diaries, cold threatens lives. We explain hypothermia, why cold-water immersion is so dangerous, and how to rewarm safely.
Plant Ashes
In The Apothecary Diaries, ash is scattered to repel insects. We explain potash, alkalinity, and the ancient uses of wood ash.