logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
9m 5s

Dismantling the PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'...

Scientific American
About this episode
More sustainable ways of removing persistent chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the environment are on the horizon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
Up next
Jun 22
Ebola update, World Cup heat risks, dad brains
In this episode of Science Quickly, we start with a quick update on the Ebola outbreak surging in parts of Africa. Host Rachel Feltman is then joined by Scientific American’s senior desk editor for life science Andrea Thompson to discuss what rising temperatures mean for the FIFA ... Show More
13m 10s
Jun 19
How common viruses could quietly raise your cancer risk
In this episode of Science Quickly, one of SciAm’s Young American Scientists, biologist Jaye Gardiner, explores how common viral infections may raise cancer risk—not just through genetic mutations but by reshaping the body’s “extracellular matrix” of molecules that support cells ... Show More
15m 34s
Jun 17
The neuroscientist decoding how the brain learns
In this episode, host Rachel Feltman interviews neuroscientist Kauê M. Costa, who is among Scientific American’s inaugural cohort of Young American Scientists honorees. Costa shares how being surprised by experiments has led him to new ways of thinking about learning in the brain ... Show More
19m 22s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
What can we do now about "forever chemicals?" (PFAS part 3)
<p><strong>#169<br /> </strong><br /> Time for some action. This week on our &quot;forever chemicals&quot; aka PFAS series, get ready to talk about what we can do about PFAS. Can we get rid of them? Can we filter them? Destroy them? Once and for all? Let's find out.</p> <p><stron ... Show More
37m 21s
Sep 2023
Can forever chemicals be destroyed? (PFAS part 4)
<p><strong>#170<br /> </strong><br /> So is there any hope of destroying forever chemicals? Once we've made these super resilient molecules, can we finally figure out how to unmake them? And if so, how? Well the good news is yes, they can be destroyed, and the methods are fascina ... Show More
43m 1s
May 2024
C&EN Uncovered: Can 'forever chemicals' be destroyed?
<p dir="ltr">Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of chemicals known as PFAS, are often called "forever chemicals" because of how long they persist in the environment. They are prevalent in drinking water and have been linked to negative health outcomes.</p> <p dir="ltr"> ... Show More
19m 3s
Feb 2023
Can forever chemicals last forever?
<p>In today’s episode for 21st February 2023, we narrate a tale of PFAS or forever chemicals and whether we can dump them forever.</p> 
6m 42s
Dec 2024
From pond scum to premium skincare?
Decarbonizing our economies in the race to fight climate change demands a wholesale overhauling of all sorts of production processes to make them as sustainable as possible. Greening chemicals, which are used as ingredients in all sorts of products, is where U.K. startup Deep Blu ... Show More
8m 19s
Mar 2023
EPA Proposes Strict Limits for PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water, Greenwashing and “Chemical Recycling,” Mapping the Ocean Floor to Better Predict Coastal Flooding, and more!
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed strict new limits for PFAS “forever” chemicals in drinking water. PFAS are associated with health concerns including cancers and reproductive issues, so the move is being called a huge win for public health. Also, so-called “chemic ... Show More
51m 51s
Aug 2023
What are "forever" chemicals? (aka PFAs) And are they bad? (PFAS part 1)
<p><strong>#167<br /> </strong><br /> Have you heard of &quot;forever&quot; chemicals? Or PFAS, or PFOAS, or Teflon, or a bunch of other associated names and labels? Or have you ever used nonstick cookware, or a modern rain coat, or the countless other items that use PFAS today? ... Show More
44m 18s
Aug 2023
The history of “forever chemicals,” how did we get here? (PFAS part 2)
<p><strong>#168<br /> </strong><br /> Continuing our series on &quot;forever chemicals&quot; aka PFAS, we explore how we got into this situation. Where did PFAS come from? Why were they made? Were there any signs of PFAS being a problem early on? Let's investigate.</p> <p><strong ... Show More
42m 52s
Mar 2024
Did the FDA eliminate Forever Chemicals? (PFAS Part 5!)
tail spinning
37m 3s
Apr 2023
The forever chemicals in your blood
The Biden administration has new plans to reduce the amount of PFAS or “forever chemicals” in America’s drinking water. Barbara Moran, WBUR’s climate and environmental correspondent, explains why that will only get us so far. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by ... Show More
26m 6s