Smart Tea

Smart Tea

Who are the people behind the discoveries that have changed our lives? Join Aarati as she spills the tea on scientists and inventors throughout history!

Episodes

August 13, 2025 60 mins

An orange a day keeps the scurvy away! Aarati tells the story of the 18th century naval physician who set up the very first clinical trial to figure out what treatments for scurvy actually held (sea)water. 

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So much of our modern life runs on batteries: laptops, cell phones, electric cars, watches, remotes, even toothbrushes! Aarati tells the story of the Italian scientist who settled a decade long debate about how electricity is generated and stored by building the first battery. 

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Travel back with us to Ancient Rome! Aarati tells the story of Pliny the Elder, who made it his mission to catalogue over 20,000 "scientific" facts, laying the framework for encyclopedias.

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Frances refused FDA approval of thalidomide for treating morning sickness until it was deemed safe... which it wasn't. Aarati tells the story of the FDA medical officer who held the line against a shady pharmaceutical company and saved American babies. 

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Even a Nobel Prize laureate couldn't stand in her way! Aarati tells the story of the first Indian woman to get a PhD in science and how she used it to help her country's people.

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For someone who was literally blinded by science, Gustaf remained optimistic. And why shouldn't he have been? He saved countless lives and won the Nobel prize by improving lighthouses. And he set a new standard in home cooking!

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Meet the scientist whose discoveries led to him almost winning the Nobel Prize SEVEN times. From the Aurora Borealis, to electromagnetic cannons, to fertilizer, the impact Kristian Birkeland had on science cannot be overstated.

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April 23, 2025 59 mins

We spend about 33% of our lives sleeping but during that time, our brain is still incredibly active. In this episode, we talk about Dr. William Dement, the Stanford professor who set up the first sleep clinics to study what is goes on while we are dreaming.

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Any pilot will tell you, bird strikes are unfortunately a common occurrence. But thanks to Roxie's work, the skies are less dangerous for airplanes and our flying feathered friends. Aarati tells her story and introduces Maria, the new podcast co-host!

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From wild child to a Nobel laureate! Aarati tells the story of the artistic scientist whose beautifully intricate drawings unraveled the secrets of the brain.

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Mind control is more than science fiction! Arpita tells the story of a scientist who could make charging bulls stop dead in their tracks and cats lick at invisible bowls of milk. 

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What causes a quantum jump? Aarati tells the story of Dr. Elmer Imes, a Harlem Renaissance man who proved that the rotation and vibration of molecules is quantized. 

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February 12, 2025 54 mins

The Mariana Trench is the deepest and least explored part of our oceans. Hold your breath while Arpita tells the story of the first scientist to make the harrowing journey into the deep. 

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January 29, 2025 59 mins

From tiny tremors to catastrophic disasters, earthquakes are a difficult phenomenon to measure. Aarati tells the story of Charles Richter, a man who wanted to study the stars, but ended up studying the literal earth instead.

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Happy new year! We're starting 2025 with an EXPLOSIVE episode! Arpita tells the story of Jack Parsons, the founder of JPL, who had some dark and unexpected interests. 

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December 11, 2024 34 mins

Taking photographs of microscopic snow crystals is an art. Aarati tells the story of the man who braved blizzards in his obsession to capture the beauty of snowflakes.

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From antibodies to killer T cells, there isn't a part of the immune system Brigitte didn't study. Aarati tells the story of a true pioneer in immunology.

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Would you drink embalmed milk?! Arpita tells the story of the scientist who cracked down on harmful preservatives and additives in food and started the FDA.

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October 30, 2024 47 mins

As soon as X-rays were discovered, scientists realized the potential they had to revolutionize healthcare. Aarati tells the story of the very first physicist who won the Nobel Prize.

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October 16, 2024 52 mins

It's football season! Arpita tells the story of a pathologist who publicized some of the dangers facing NFL players. Come for the football, stay for Dr. Omalu's surprising motives. 

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For more information and sources for this episode, visit https://www.smartteapodcast.com.

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