Retinol: The magical molecule's bizarre history
About this episode
This episode explores the history and significance of retinol in skin care and its unexpected connections to birth control research.
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. 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. 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.
People in this episode
Hosts: David Anderson, Gina Vitale
Guest: Craig Bettenhausen
Topics covered
- retinol
- skin care
- history of science
- birth control
- ancient uses
Mentioned in this episode
Products: retinol, YCT-529
Places: Egypt
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