How Life Works: AMSEcast with Philip Ball
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host and American Museum of Science and Energy executive director Alan Lowe discusses the science of life with Philip Ball, taking an in-depth dive into Ball's newest book, How Life Works: A User's Guide to the New Biology.
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The History of Trademark: AMSEcast with Jason Clark
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host and American Museum of Science and Energy executive director Alan Lowe sits down with Jason Clark of the USPTO to discuss the history and the relevance of trademarks, patents, and copyrights for inventions in America to celebrate America's big 250th birthday!
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Discussing The Warhead: AMSEcast with Jeffrey Stern
AMSEcast
On this episode of AMSEcast, host and American Museum of Science and Energy Executive Director Alan Lowe sits down with award-winning journalist Jeffrey Stern to discuss his widely successful book, "The Warhead: The Quest to Build the Perfect Weapon in the Age of Modern Warfare."
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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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Show Notes:
- (1:34) The difference between a rock and a mineral
- (2:38) How minerals form rocks
- (4:51) How limestone and marble are formed
- (6:33) Identifying faults based on rock strata and surface landscapes
- (8:51) What rocks say about the structure and atmosphere of ancient Earth
- (10:43) How materials can survive millennia without changing
- (12:56) The ways animals and plants can affect the Earth’s geology
- (15:28) How concrete and bricks are created
- (18:53) How hydrocarbons are formed
- (21:47) What we’ve learned about the Moon and Mars from their samples
- (25:15) What’s next for Jan Zalasiewicz
Links Referenced
- The Cosmic Oasis: The Remarkable Story of Earth’s Biosphere https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Oasis-Remarkable-Earths-Biosphere/dp/0198845871/
- Discarded: How Technofossils Will be Our Ultimate Legacy https://www.amazon.com/Discarded-Technofossils-Will-Ultimate-Legacy/dp/0192869337/
- How to Read a Rock: Our Planet’s Hidden Stories https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Rock-Planets-Stories/dp/1588347281