IVF: The history, science and struggle that gave rise to a life-changing technology

Tiny Matters

On July 25th, 1978, in the northwest of England, a baby was born. On its surface, that’s not a big statement — babies are born every single day. But this birth attracted media attention from around the world. The baby’s name was Louise Brown, and she was the first baby born from in vitro fertilization, or IVF.
In this episode of Tiny Matters, Sam and Deboki answer a question that came from a listener who asked, “How on earth did they come up with IVF?” They cover the science behind IVF, the research and people — both scientists and patients — that made it possible, how it has improved over the years, and both the historical and current challenges it faces.
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Chapters

1. IVF: The history, science and struggle that gave rise to a life-changing technology (00:00:00)

2. History and Science of IVF (00:00:03)

3. Advancements in in Vitro Fertilization (00:14:32)

4. Media and Fossil Discoveries (00:24:08)