The Smell of Hell
Summary
This Radiolab episode explores the overlooked element sulfur through three distinct stories. Dr. Aver Mitra recounts a 1994 ER mystery where a patient’s presence caused mass fainting, potentially linked to sulfur compounds. Historian Jeanette Conant details the 1943 Bari disaster, revealing how a mustard gas accident inadvertently launched modern chemotherapy research. Finally, the show examines hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that surprisingly plays a vital role in memory formation and may offer insights into treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Common Sense Media and A Ghost in Your Ear
Introduction to the show and the element of sulfur
Mystery: ER staff collapse after treating a patient
Autopsy and gas chromatography reveal unknown chemical
Identifying DMSO2 and the theory of airborne toxicity
The mystery remains unsolved; human sensitivity to sulfur
Historical context: The Bari disaster in WWII
Mustard gas exposure and the 'Little Pearl Harbor'
Investigation reveals American mustard gas bombs
From poison to cure: The birth of chemotherapy
Sponsors: AT&T, Bombas, and Smalls
Hydrogen sulfide in the brain and early research
How hydrogen sulfide strengthens neural connections
Research on Alzheimer's and dietary sources of H2S
Evolutionary history of sulfur and its role in life
Sulfur in space and closing remarks
Credits and upcoming events
Sponsor: Odoo
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