Mary Shelley and the science of Frankenstein

 has become a pop culture mainstay and it all started off as a novel written by an 18-year-old woman written in the early 1800s.

As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the novel’s publication, we look at how Mary Shelley was inspired by science and how the lessons of the book still resonate with the scientific world today.

And if curious to learn more about de-extinction, you can 

check out our episode where we talked to a scientist working on making the passenger pigeon de-extinct

 To delve more deeply into the book, you can check out the game 

, along with essays about the book from scientists, at 

 Our friends at Science Friday have chosen Mary Shelley’s novel as their book club pick. 

Molly Bloom is the co-creator and host of Brains On! and Smash Boom Best, and helps produce all the other APM Studios podcasts for kids and families. Molly loves finding out about the way things work — whether it’s a glass factory or our brains or molecular bonds. She likes playing piano, sings in a choir and wishes that people would break into song and dance like they do in the musicals that she loves. She was always the shortest one in her class and has worn glasses since the third grade.


Molly Bloom

As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the novel’s publication, we look at how Mary Shelley was inspired by science and how the lessons of the book still resonate with the scientific world today.


Frankenstein has become a pop culture mainstay and it all started off as a novel written by an 18-year-old woman written in the early 1800s. As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the novel's publication, we look at how Mary Shelley was inspired by science and how the lessons of the book still resonate with the scientific world today. And for more on electricity, check out our four-part series from December.

Statue of Frankenstein's monster in Geneva, Switzerland

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Mary Shelley Manuscripts At The Bodleian Library

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families from the makers of the award-winning podcast, Brains On! Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best.


Smash Boom Best

Julie and her daughter, children’s author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, invite you into their library to read their favorite children's books. Every story comes to life with sound, music and activities. Authors, kids and other special guests chime in, too! 


Julie's Library

Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching listeners to think critically about history.


Mary Shelley and the science of Frankenstein

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