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Materials and All Matters of Science with Mark Miodownik

AMSEcast

Release Date: 02/26/2025

General MacArthur’s War Path with Walter Borneman show art General MacArthur’s War Path with Walter Borneman

AMSEcast

Alan talks with historian Walter Borneman about his book MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific. They examine General Douglas MacArthur’s early career, his leadership in the Philippines, and his strategic command from Australia. Borneman discusses MacArthur’s evolving coordination with the Navy, his key role in island-hopping operations, and his push to reclaim the Philippines. They also explore MacArthur’s late awareness of the atomic bomb, his post-war leadership as Supreme Commander in Japan, and his legacy as a pioneering military strategist and symbol of American resolve...

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AMSEcast with guest Tom Zoellner show art AMSEcast with guest Tom Zoellner

AMSEcast

Given the centrality of uranium to the story of the Manhattan Project, the creation of Oak Ridge, and the ongoing nuclear renaissance, I thought it would be good to learn more about that element, so I spoke on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Tom Zoellner about his fascinating book, Uranium: War, Energy, and the Rock that Shaped the World. I started by asking why uranium is so unique and so suited to creating the chain reactions that are central to both nuclear energy production and the workings of nuclear weapons.

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Inside the National Air and Space Museum with Margaret Weitekamp show art Inside the National Air and Space Museum with Margaret Weitekamp

AMSEcast

Alan Lowe speaks with Dr. Margaret Weitekamp of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum about its transformation ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. They explore how new exhibits, immersive storytelling, and iconic artifacts like the Wright Flyer, Space Shuttle Discovery, and Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit bring aviation and space history to life. Weitekamp discusses the museum’s role as both a public institution and research center, preserving innovations from early flight to modern space exploration. She also reflects on international collaboration, private sector...

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Inside the Invention Factory with Kathleen Carlucci show art Inside the Invention Factory with Kathleen Carlucci

AMSEcast

Kathleen Carlucci, director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, joins AMSEcast to discuss Edison’s lasting impact on American innovation. From his early love of telegraphy to his system-wide inventions in sound, light, and film, Edison redefined how ideas were developed and assembled skilled teams in the world’s first “invention factory.” Carlucci highlights his resilience, collaborative spirit, and ability to turn failure into progress. Visitors to the Center can explore original artifacts, interactive exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations that bring Edison’s legacy to life,...

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A Library of Treasures in American History with Josh Levy show art A Library of Treasures in American History with Josh Levy

AMSEcast

Dr. Josh Levy is a historian of science and technology at the Library of Congress. In this episode of AMSEcast, he highlights key figures and artifacts from all across America’s innovation history. From Samuel Morse’s early telegraph designs to George Washington Carver’s advocacy for sustainable farming, Levy reveals stories of invention and resilience. He also discusses aviation pioneer Lt. Thomas Selfridge and Claude Shannon’s groundbreaking work in information theory. Josh and Alan finish with Gladys West, whose geoid calculations became foundational for GPS. Her later recognition...

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Sailing the High Seas of History with Peter Armstrong show art Sailing the High Seas of History with Peter Armstrong

AMSEcast

Alan is joined by Peter Armstrong, president of Mystic Seaport Museum, to continue our celebration of 250 years of American innovation. Peter reflects on his 25 years in museum leadership and shares insights into Mystic’s long shipbuilding history. The museum, the largest maritime museum in the U.S., features historic vessels like the Charles W. Morgan, clipper ships, and a converted diesel-electric steamboat. From Fresnel lenses to nuclear submarines, Peter highlights how the museum preserves maritime heritage while embracing modern innovation.     Guest Bio Peter Armstrong has...

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The Legacy of George Washington Carver with Curtis Gregory show art The Legacy of George Washington Carver with Curtis Gregory

AMSEcast

AMSEcast continues celebrating 250 years of American innovation with Curtis Gregory. A park ranger at the George Washington Carver National Monument, Curtis sits down with Alan to share Carver’s inspiring journey from enslavement to becoming a pioneering scientist and educator who transformed Southern agriculture. Known for promoting peanuts and sweet potatoes as sustainable crops, Carver created hundreds of uses for them! Beyond his lab, he educated rural farmers through lectures, pamphlets, and the innovative Jesup Wagon. His legacy endures in food security and agricultural education....

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Engineering a Nation with Guru Madhavan show art Engineering a Nation with Guru Madhavan

AMSEcast

Alan speaks with Dr. Guru Madhavan at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, as we continue our series marking 250 years of American innovation. Guru, a leader at the National Academy of Engineering, explores the Academy’s Civil War origins, its lasting role in advising the U.S. government, and its influence on everything from compass design to pandemic response. He discusses how innovation must balance bold ideas with long-term systems like sanitation and maintenance. Calling for a “deep time” perspective, Guru urges us to value resilience, inclusivity, and the often-unseen...

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The History of Spies with Andrew Hammond show art The History of Spies with Andrew Hammond

AMSEcast

AMSEcast celebrates 250 years of American innovation with Dr. Andrew Hammond, historian and curator at the International Spy Museum. Hammond explores the evolution of intelligence and espionage, from trial-and-error codebreaking by pioneers like the Friedmans to today’s cutting-edge technology. He highlights cryptographic breakthroughs, spy tools, and covert communication methods like one-time pads and suitcase radios. The conversation traces the U.S.’s rise as a global intelligence leader, fueled by Cold War innovation and British collaboration. Stories like the CIA’s Glomar Explorer...

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Inside the U.S. Mint with Don Bennett show art Inside the U.S. Mint with Don Bennett

AMSEcast

We continue to celebrate 250 years of American innovation with Don Bennett, Deputy Associate Director of the U.S. Mint’s Manufacturing Directorate. He joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to talk about the Mint’s history, operations, and cutting-edge advancements. With facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, West Point, and San Francisco, the Mint produces coins using robotics, high-speed presses, and laser die processing. Don discusses the importance of physical currency, the American Innovation Dollar Coin Program, and upcoming designs for the nation’s 250th anniversary. This episode is...

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More Episodes
Materials scientist and BBC presenter Dr. Mark Miodownik joins AMSEcast to discuss his latest book, It’s a Gas. He explores the hidden world of gases, from steam’s role in electricity production to methane’s surprising history. The conversation spans George Washington’s scientific curiosity, oxygen’s life-saving importance, and the chemistry of scent. Mark also unpacks the science of hot air and hydrogen balloons, noble gases, and carbon capture technology’s potential to combat climate change. Looking ahead, he envisions a future of sustainable materials and repairable goods.
 
 
Guest Bio
Dr. Mark Miodownik is a professor of materials and society at University College London where he directs the Institute of Making and founded the Plastic Waste Innovation Hub. With a PhD from Oxford in turbine jet engine alloys, he has worked as a materials engineer across the UK, US, and Ireland. A passionate science communicator, Mark presents BBC programs and podcasts, and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Awarded an MBE for his contributions to materials science and broadcasting, he’s also the bestselling author of Stuff Matters, Liquid Rules, and his latest book, It’s a Gas.
 
 
Show Highlights
  • (2:57) Why steam gas is still important for life in the 21st century
  • (4:24) What natural gas is and how it was eventually harnessed
  • (8:28) George Washington’s experiments with natural gas
  • (10:02) The importance of oxygen and how it’s produced and distributed
  • (14:32) How oxygen is distributed in hospitals
  • (17:47) How scented gases are created, captured and distributed as perfumes
  • (23:38) How hot air ballooning got started and how it works
  • (29:05) The role noble gases play in our daily lives and how they were discovered
  • (32:33) Strategies for capturing carbon dioxide
  • (38:36) Which form of gas technology Mark thinks has had the biggest effect on civilization
  • (41:16) What Dr. Mark Miodownik is working on next
 
 
Links Referenced