AMSEcast

What if I told you that, no matter where you are or what you are doing, about 100 trillion neutrinos are passing through your body every second?   Well, you might first respond, as I did, by asking what is a neutrino, and then wondering why we seem to have no awareness at all of their presence.   I mean, if were one or two particles, sure, you might miss them, but 100 trillion every second?   I ne...

Robert Hettich who serves as the Corporate Fellow and Leader of the Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group of the Biosciences Division at Oak Ridge National Lab, and as a Joint Faculty Member in the Microbiology Department at the University of Tennessee.   Bob is an internationally recognized leader in the field of microbiomes.   Now, you might have heard of microbiomes especially in regard to the...

In this episode of AMSEcast, host Alan Lowe sits down with William Harris, President and CEO of Space Center Houston, to explore the past, present, and future of human space exploration and what it means for American innovation. As the official visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston serves as the public gateway to human spaceflight. William shares how the center uses...

Ghost Particle explores the neutrino, one of the most abundant yet elusive particles in the universe, tracing its journey from a theoretical fix to puzzling nuclear reactions to a cornerstone of modern physics. The book explains how neutrinos helped preserve fundamental laws like conservation of energy and reveals how decades of ingenious experiments finally confirmed their existence. The authors...

Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid that was perhaps 9 miles wide struck the Earth, an impact that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.   What if an asteroid that large or even larger was headed toward Earth today?     We've seen this scenario in books and in movies like Armageddon , but I wanted to get some expert input, so I spoke on our podcast , AMSEcast, with Robin Andrews, about his...

Alan Lowe interviews Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute, as part of a series celebrating 250 years of American innovation. He joins AMSEcast to discuss the institute's 1824 origins, its mission to inspire curiosity in science and technology, and its deep ties to Benjamin Franklin's legacy. He highlights major exhibits, including the National Memorial, the Hamilton Collecti...

Alan Lowe talks with Richard Munson about his book Ingenious: A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist. Munson's book aims to highlight Franklin's often overlooked scientific achievements. He describes Franklin's rise from a penniless runaway to a successful printer whose curiosity fueled his scientific breakthroughs. Franklin's experiments helped define core electrical concepts and led to inve...

A discussion of American innovation and leadership with Sudip Parikh.

Author Simon Cordrey discusses the early days of the railroad and how that changed America.

Author Jay Feldman and Alan Lowe, Director of the AMSE Foundation discuss his book, When the Mississippi Ran Backwards.

Alan Lowe is joined in this episode of AMSEcast by Dr. Robin Andrews, volcanologist, science journalist, and author of How to Kill an Asteroid. Dr. Andrews explores how modern planetary defense blends cutting-edge detection networks, such as NASA's NEO Surveyor, with active deflection efforts like the DART mission, which successfully shifted an asteroid's orbit. He also delves into theoretical app...

Michele  J.  Gelfand is the John H. Scully Professor of Cross-Cultural Management  Professor of Organizational Behavior and Psychology at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her book, RULE MAKERS, RULE BREAKERS: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World takes readers on a journey through a variety of human cultures, exploring unique a multi-faceted glimpse into the world around us and ourselve...

Host Alan Lowe continues AMSEcast's exploration of 250 years of American innovation with Smithsonian experts Harold Wallace Jr., Dr. Eric Hintz, and Tim Pula. Together, they trace invention from Benjamin Franklin's experiments to modern breakthroughs, highlighting the Smithsonian's exhibitions, collections, and hands-on learning at Spark! Lab. The discussion spans collaboration with the Library of...

Dr. Robert Hettich is a pioneer in bioanalytical mass spectrometry. In this episode of AMSEcast, he describes how microbiomes form, vary across the body, and influence digestion, immunity, and overall health. Dr. Hettich also explains metaproteomics, the study of microbial proteins, to reveal how microbes function beyond their genes as well as their applications from human health to environmental...

Dr. Colwell shares her insight on the progression of women in science through the years. Framed by her own experiences we learn about her incredible work.

Railroads have shaped America's growth, technology, and daily life for nearly two centuries. In this episode of AMSEcast, Alan talks with Dr. Albert Churella of Kennesaw State University about how innovations such as the automatic knuckle coupler, Westinghouse's air brake, and the move from steam to diesel transformed safety and efficiency. Dr. Churella explains how signaling, centralized traffic...

Author Richard Ellis speaks about his latest book The Quest for the Cosmic Dawn. A breakdown of the earliest moments of our celestial cosmic soup.

Author and historian Jay Feldman joins host Alan Lowe to discuss When the Mississippi Ran Backwards, his gripping account of the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes. Alan and Feldman explore the quakes' massive impact, including over 2,000 tremors felt across 1.5 million square miles, and the deep historical context behind them. He explains the ancient origins of the Reelfoot Rift, Tecumseh's eerie q...

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 com...

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.

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.

We have a great conversation with Lorraine Daston editor of Science in the Archives: Pasts, Presents, Futures.

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,...

Highlights of conversations about innovation from AMSEcast. The Podcast of the American Museum of Science and Energy.