John Harrold

Science of Everyday Life

Science EN ↓ 2 episodes

An MIT Learn Podcast. Every day we interact with countless unique materials, technologies, and ideas. Most of us never give a second thought to many of them, but a lucky few of us get the chance to learn how fascinating these seemingly mundane topics can actually be. On this podcast, we speak with some of those folks and get a glimpse into what makes these materials and other topics so interesting, the science that makes it all work, and perhaps will give us a reason to take that second look. At MIT, John Harrold, PhD is an Instructor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and...

Author

John Harrold

Episodes

Fashionable Physics: Turning Plastic Bags into Functional Fabrics with Svetlana Boriskina 15.06.2026 46:36

In a world where clothing is constantly produced, purchased, and replaced, there is still a lot to learn about fabric. What may seem like an old, familiar industry turns out to be full of advanced physics, materials science, and engineering challenges. MIT Mechanical Engineering Principal Investigator Svetlana Boriskina develops new fabrics that can provide thermal comfort indoors and outdoors, re...

Half-Million Miles to Your Door: Supply Chains with Chris Caplice 18.05.2026 45:29

From the products on our shelves to the packages arriving at our doors, supply chains quietly shape our everyday lives. We sat down with Chris Caplice to unpack how these complex systems actually work behind the scenes. Dr. Caplice serves as the Executive Director of the MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) where he is responsible for the planning and management of the research, e...