Inflection Point – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Inflection Point

C&EN

Science

Frequency: 1 episode/36d. Total Eps: 14

Inflection Point traces emerging ideas in science to their surprising roots. With help from C&EN's vast, 100-year archive, we find the origins of modern breakthroughs, and tease out three different pieces of the puzzle that lead to our current moment.

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Apple

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - chemistry
24/08/2026
#22
🇬🇧 Great Britain - chemistry
24/08/2026
#49
🇩🇪 Germany - chemistry
24/08/2026
#29
🇺🇸 USA - chemistry
24/08/2026
#9
🇫🇷 France - chemistry
24/08/2026
#26
🇨🇦 Canada - chemistry
23/08/2026
#22
🇬🇧 Great Britain - chemistry
23/08/2026
#48
🇩🇪 Germany - chemistry
23/08/2026
#28
🇺🇸 USA - chemistry
23/08/2026
#8
🇫🇷 France - chemistry
23/08/2026
#25

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://open.spotify.com/show/1dajV3XMJNL3i61U4LhNeh?si=E9U193_WRn-1UhwJNfaGBQ&nd=1&dlsi=6a2d33f46e82422a
18 shares

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inflection-point/id1804147797
18 shares

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 78%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

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How under-appreciated critters inspired GLP-1 drugs

Season 2 · Episode 1

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 36:32

In the first episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that led to blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. They also talk with C&EN reporter Aayushi Pratap about how future GLP-1 drugs may expand on the current slate of options.

C&EN's latest podcast, Inflection Point, leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The many materials that made microplastics possible

Season 1 · Episode 4

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 • Duration 28:27

This episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that were pivotal in the evolution of microplastics. They also bring in C&EN reporter Bri Barbu to discuss how biodegradable plastics, if employed responsibly, may offer a glimmer of hope.

C&EN's Inflection Point, leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The mind-bending innovations that built quantum computing

Season 1 · Episode 3

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 • Duration 27:13

In this episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that were meaningful to the development of quantum computers. They also bring in C&EN reporter Mitch Jacoby to discuss scientific advances enabled by quantum chemistry.

C&EN's Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The serendipitous origins of 'forever chemicals'

Season 1 · Episode 2

Monday, April 7, 2025 • Duration 24:48

C&EN's latest podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

In our second episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three events that ultimately led to the proliferation of PFAS. They also bring in C&EN reporter Britt Erickson to analyze how these 'forever chemicals' could shape our future.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Inflection Point: The strange history of green hydrogen

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, March 24, 2025 • Duration 22:23

Inflection Point is a podcast that leans on C&EN's 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to breakthroughs like quantum computing and green hydrogen. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show will examine how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

In our first episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three events that ultimately led to the development of green hydrogen. They also bring in C&EN reporter Craig Bettenhausen to analyze how this emerging technology could shape our future.

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The era-spanning epiphanies that enabled gene editing

Season 2 · Episode 2

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 • Duration 32:50

Hosts David and Gina explore how scientists over the centuries unlocked the ability to edit our genes

In the second episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that ultimately led to scientists being able to edit genes. They also bring in C&EN reporter Max Barnhart to offer a glimpse into the future of gene editing technology.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The ancient, 'juicy' origins of antibiotic resistance

Season 2 · Episode 3

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 • Duration 37:44

C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

In the third episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that ultimately led to our current understanding of antibiotic resistance. They also bring in C&EN reporter Rowan Walrath to offer a glimpse into a doomsday-scenario future when antibiotics are no longer effective.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The electric innovations that brought lithium-ion batteries online

Season 2 · Episode 4

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 • Duration 37:35

C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.
In the last episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale charge up the time machine to relive three historical moments that led to the lithium-ion battery. They also bring in C&EN reporter Prachi Patel to discuss the shortcomings of lithium-ion batteries, whether we're facing a lithium shortage, and new battery chemistry still on the horizon.
Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Bonus: Celebrating 1 year of Inflection Point!

Season 2 · Episode 5

Monday, March 23, 2026 • Duration 30:42

Exactly one year ago, co-hosts David and Gina embarked on their time-traveling journey thorugh science history. Along the way they've traced the unlikely origins of microplastics, relived the nauseating experiment behind the first battery, and fished for the surprising creatures that helped scientists develop GLP-1 drugs. Join them as they surprise each other with their favorite moments from the show's first year.

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Retinol: The magical molecule's bizarre history

Season 3 · Episode 1

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 • Duration 32:49

In this episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel as far back as ancient Egypt to unearth the wide-ranging uses of retinol. They also bring in C&EN reporter Craig Bettenhausen to discuss why retinol is such a powerhouse molecule for skin care, and they hear from a contraceptives researcher about how an early candidate for a birth control pill for men affected the retinol pathway.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Correction:

This episode was updated on June 10, 2026 to correct an error in the name of a new birth control candidate for men. It is YCT-529, not YTC-529.

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Inflection Point – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Inflection Point – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Spotify1

Apple Podcast1

Other2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Spotify1

Apple Podcast1

Other2

Apple Podcasts

Spotify