ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Before becoming a respected biochemist, Michael Marletta was a child watching Sputnik crossing over Rochester, New York, imagining what it might be like to be a scientist one day. He was his mother’s helper in the kitchen, wondering how spices got their flavor and how they changed when mixed together and heated. He admired the periodic table and the unbelievable truth that those simple elements make up all of life on Earth. As he explored the field of chemistry, he realized the Earth itself is the best biochemist of all–putting all the elements together to shape life as we know it.
In this episode of Useful Knowledge, host Patrick Spero is joined by biochemist Michael Marletta (APS 2016) to discuss how he found his niche in biochemistry and the future of the field for budding scientists. They consider the fascinating history of biochemistry from its earliest days when scientists were encouraged to smell and even taste their creations, and the role of serendipity in scientific discovery. And, Marletta shares one of the foundational chemicals in his work–nitric oxide, which has widespread effects throughout the human body.
