In this episode of Disappearing Spoon, Sam Kean discusses the horrors of a particular genetic disease that was, literally, sweeping through London in the 1700s. In 1666, the Great Fire of London consumed about 13,000 homes and caused the modern equivalent about $1.3 billion in damage. After the Great Fire, London officials made chimneys mandatory in all homes and buildings. All these new chimneys meant there was a big demand for sweepers. Who did they employ to clean these narrow, soot-filled chimneys you ask? Very young boys.
CreditsHost: Sam Kean
Senior Producer: Mariel Carr
Producer: Rigoberto Hernandez
Audio Engineer: Jonathan Pfeffer
Preview: Happy Holidays from Distillations!
The Mouse That Changed Science: A Tiny Animal With a Big Story
Preview: The Mouse that Changed Science
Treating America's Opioid Addiction Part 3: Searching for Meaning in Kensington
Treating America’s Opioid Addiction Part 2: Synanon and the Tunnel Back to the Human Race.
Preview: Treating America's Opioid Addiction, Part 2
Treating America’s Opioid Addiction Part 1: The Narcotic Farm and the Promise of Salvation
Preview: We're hard at work on our next season!
Fighting Smog in Los Angeles
Preview: Smog in Los Angeles used to be way worse
Whatever Happened to Acid Rain?
Preview: Whatever Happened to Acid Rain?
Whatever Happened to the Ozone Hole?
The Man, the Myth, the Laser
The Yoga Pant Problem
The Almost Forgotten Story of Katherine Jones, Lady Ranelagh
Sci-Fi Radio Drama: A Cautionary Tale of Technology Run Riot
Butter vs. Margarine: one of America's most bizarre food battles
Grandmothers Matter: Some surprisingly controversial theories of human longevity
Refugee Doctors: Escape is only the first challenge
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
The Rest Is History