AMSEcast with guest Norm Augustine
AMSEcast
In this episode, Mr. Lowe interviews Mr. Augustine. They discuss a variety of fascinating roles that Mr. Augustine has served in over the course of his career. At Princeton he was advised to consider geological engineering but would go on to change his major to aeronautical engineering as he was advised by a peer “that is where the future was.” The range of topics they discuss include American competitiveness, the challenge of putting people on the moon, international travel, the importance of individual talent and the drive to achieve. Undertaking work in the sciences in the context of...
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AMSE Science Report with guest Jack Kelly
AMSEcast
In this excerpt from our podcast, AMSEcast, Jack Kelly, author of Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive that Changed the World. Discusses one of the most innovative and compounds ever manufactured.
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STEM of History with Dr. Todd Braje
AMSEcast
Dr. Todd Braje, the Executive Director of the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, discusses his book, Understanding Imperiled Earth. He shows how analyzing data from many disciplines, such as archaeology and history, can help address some of the environmental challenges we face today.
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STEM of History The Science of Archives
AMSEcast
We have a great conversation with Lorraine Daston editor of Science in the Archives: Pasts, Presents, Futures.
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Connecting Cultures and Cosmos with Ed Krupp
AMSEcast
Dr. E.C. “Ed” Krupp joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to discuss the Griffith Observatory and his role as its longtime director. Now in its 90th year, the observatory remains a hub for public astronomy, drawing over 1.6 million visitors annually. Ed shares its educational mission, including a fifth-grade program and immersive exhibits like “Water is Life.” He also discusses archaeoastronomy, the cross-disciplinary study of ancient skywatching, and how visiting historical sites deepens our understanding of past cultures. From the Hopi village of Walpi to upcoming lunar livestreams...
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The keys to innovation
AMSEcast
Highlights of conversations about innovation from AMSEcast. The Podcast of the American Museum of Science and Energy.
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AMSE Science Report: Walter Borneman recently spoke to us about his book, MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific
AMSEcast
Noted historian Walter Borneman recently spoke to us about his book, MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific. Few characters loom as large in that war than Douglas MacArthur, and Walt’s book gives a terrific look at how this enigmatic man helped lead our nation to victory over the Japanese. After his narrow escape from the Philippines as the Japanese invaded, MacArthur set up his headquarters in Australia in a time that looked very bad for the allies. Walt offers unique perspective on MacArthur’s field of operations as the allies began to turn the tables against the Japanese empire.
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AMSE Science Report Al Romig
AMSEcast
On this episode, being recorded at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC, I’m very honored to be joined by Dr. Alton D. Romig, Jr. Al has had a truly exceptional career, full of more awards than I can list today. Most recently, for example, the 2024 IEEE McClure Citation of Honor for engineering leadership, and more positions than I can include today, but they’ve included leadership roles at Sandia National Lab, service as vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs, better known to all of us as the famous Skunk Works. And...
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Kathleen Carlucci, the Director of the Thomas Edison Center talks history
AMSEcast
We always celebrate at our museums the rich history of American innovation, but we’re putting a special spotlight on that history as we approach the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026. To help us with that, we spoke on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Kathleen Carlucci, the Director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park. Thanks to his host of revolutionary innovations and inventions, Thomas Edison changed our world with technologies like the phonograph, motion pictures, electric light, and the list truly goes on and on. Altogether he obtained 1,093 US patents, and 1,250 patents in 34 other...
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Gunpowder: From Alchemy to Empire with Jack Kelly
AMSEcast
Jack Kelly joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to talk about his book Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics. They discuss gunpowder’s accidental invention in 10th-century China and its explosive mix of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. Kelly explains how gunpowder shaped science and warfare, fueling revolutions in physics, ending the era of castles, and powering colonial empires. Though once too expensive for civilian use, gunpowder later drove mining and infrastructure projects before being replaced by safer, more powerful explosives like dynamite. Kelly also previews his...
info_outline- (1:50) What led Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph
- (4:03) Morse’s letter regarding the telegraph
- (7:36) Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver
- (8:47) Carver’s letter to John Washington, Booker T. Washington’s brother
- (12:02) Alfred Graham Bell’s interest in aviation
- (15:02) Thomas Selfridge
- (17:28) Claude Shannon, the Father of the Information Age
- (18:46) Shannon’s schematic of Theseus, the maze-solving robotic mouse
- (20:11) Gladys West’s impact on GPS technology
- Library of Congress website: https://loc.gov
- For specific questions about manuscripts at the Library of Congress: https://ask.loc.gov/manuscripts