Science Diction
Science Diction is a podcast about words and the science stories behind them.
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Each episode of Science Diction takes a word or phrase, and with the help of historians, authors, etymologists, and scientists, serves up language with a side of science.
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Science Diction: Meme
The word ‘meme’ has more to do with evolutionary biology than the internet.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Seaborgium’
For 20 years, it was known simply as “element 106.”
The Origin Of The Word ‘Mercury’
From ancient alchemists to Lewis and Clark, mercury has a storied history.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Helium’
Astronomers thought the element could only be found in the sun.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Humor’
From pseudoscience to Shakespeare, it’s no laughing matter.
The Origin Of ‘The Five-Second Rule’
It has to do with Genghis Khan and Julia Child.
The Origin Of The Word ‘Chocolate’
Every day, people around the word are speaking a tiny bit of the native language Nahuat.
