Creating The Nuclear Navy: AMSEcast with Paul Cantonwine
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host and American Museum of Science and Energy executive director Alan Lowe sits to chat with Paul Cantonwine, author of "The Never-Ending Challenge of Engineering: Admiral H.G. Rickover in His Own Words" to discuss the creation of the nuclear navy through the eyes of H.G. Rickover, and what his mentality might be like in today's ever-changing world.
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The Science of Presidency: AMSEcast with Andrew Busch
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host and AMSE executive director Alan Lowe discusses the science of a presidency with Andrew Busch, the associate director and professor at the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The episode goes in depth to analyze the behaviors of not only the American political system, but also its presidents, and how they have operated throughout different political climates and times in history.
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The Nuclear Navy: AMSEcast with Lawrence Townsend
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host Alan Lowe sat down with Lawrence Townsend to discuss the past, present, and future of America's nuclear navy, including what our advancements in technology throughout the country might mean going forward.
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Less Weapons, More Energy: AMSEcast With Charles Oppenheimer
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host Alan Lowe welcomes Charles Oppenheimer, entrepreneur and grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer, for a wide-ranging conversation on nuclear energy, global security, and the legacy of one of the 20th century’s most influential scientists. Oppenheimer discusses the mission of the Oppenheimer Project, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing his grandfather’s values through increased international cooperation on nuclear technology. He explains the organization’s dual focus: expanding the beneficial uses of nuclear fission (especially clean energy) and reducing the...
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AMSEcast Geoff deBeauclair
AMSEcast
AMSEcast launches a new series exploring America’s nuclear navy and Oak Ridge’s vital role in its history and future. From helping shape the legacy of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to supplying nuclear fuel for today’s fleet, Oak Ridge has long stood at the center of U.S. naval nuclear power. As the American Museum of Science and Energy prepares a new exhibit at the Wilcox K-25 Interpretive Center, this episode sets the stage. Our inaugural guest, Geoffrey deBeauclair, is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 30-year Navy veteran who commanded a ballistic missile submarine and...
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AMSEcast with guest Michelle Shocklee
AMSEcast
Author Michelle Shocklee discusses her novel The Women of Oak Ridge and the personal, historical, and emotional paths that led her to the story of the Secret City during the Manhattan Project. Growing up near Los Alamos and coming from a World War II family shaped her long-standing connection to the era, but a chance encounter with a reader ultimately sparked her discovery of Oak Ridge. Shocklee describes her deep research process, drawing on oral histories, archival photographs, museum resources, and firsthand accounts to authentically portray life inside a city built on secrecy. She explains...
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The Secrets of Gravity: AMSEcast with James Riordon
AMSEcast
In this episode of AMSEcast, host Alan Lowe welcomes back science journalist and NASA senior science writer James Riordon to discuss his new book Crush: Close Encounters With Gravity. Riordon explores the fascinating science of gravity, from Isaac Newton’s groundbreaking laws to Albert Einstein’s revolutionary theory of general relativity. The conversation dives into how gravity shapes everything from the structure of Earth to the behavior of black holes and gravitational waves. Riordon also explains the strange effects of weightlessness on the human body, the mysteries of dark...
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AMSEcast with guest Dr. Sam Schrell
AMSEcast
In this episode of AMSECast, Dr. Samantha Schrell explores the fascinating and often mysterious world of actinides—rare, radioactive elements with powerful applications in medicine, energy, space exploration, and national security. She explains what makes actinides unique, why they are difficult to study, and how elements like californium play a critical role in starting nuclear reactors and powering space missions. Dr. Schrell also discusses Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s long-standing leadership in producing and researching heavy actinides through the High Flux Isotope Reactor. The...
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AMSEcast with guest Vasyl Dunets
AMSEcast
This episode explores how science education becomes an act of resilience, hope, and nation-building in Ukraine. From the creation of the country’s first national science museum to mobile science labs traveling near the front lines, the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine demonstrates how curiosity can endure even amid war. The guest traces a personal journey from law and political science into science education, driven by a commitment to Ukraine’s future. Listeners learn how museums, labs, competitions, and business incubators form an educational “vertical” that guides children from...
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AMSEcast with guest Dr. Ahmed El-Mokadem
AMSEcast
In this wide-ranging conversation, Ahmed El-Mokadem explores the deep ideas behind mathematics’ most mysterious numbers, revealing how concepts like zero, infinity, irrational numbers, and imaginary numbers challenge both logic and philosophy. He traces how constants such as π, e, the golden ratio, and the Feigenbaum constants appear universally across nature, physics, biology, and technology—suggesting they are discovered features of reality rather than human inventions. El-Mokadem highlights how mathematics repeatedly expands its own boundaries, from accepting imaginary numbers to...
info_outlineThe AMSE Science Report delves into the latest issues of science and engineering, featuring interviews and discussions with scientists, engineers, science policy experts, and others. Tune in every Saturday morning this summer on WUOT.
Tune in to WUOT every Saturday morning at 9:35am, during Weekend Edition, as we bring you the latest from American Museum of Science and Energy’s science series, the AMSE Science Report.