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AMSEcast episodes
- AMSEcast with guest Vasyl Dunets
This episode explores how science education becomes an act of resilience, hope, and nation-building in Ukraine. From the creation of the country's first national science museum to mobile science labs traveling near the front lines, the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine demonstrates how curiosity can endure even amid war. The guest traces a personal journey from law and political science into science education, driven by a commitment to Ukraine's future. Listeners learn how museums, labs, competitions, and business incubators form an educational "vertical" that guides children from first wonder to real-world innovation. The conversation highlights international collaboration, UNESCO recognition, and the global importance of engaging young minds in science. Ultimately, it's a powerful reminder that investing in knowledge is investing in peace, progress, and possibility.
33 min - AMSEcast with guest Dr. Ahmed El-Mokadem
In this wide-ranging conversation, Ahmed El-Mokadem explores the deep ideas behind mathematics' most mysterious numbers, revealing how concepts like zero, infinity, irrational numbers, and imaginary numbers challenge both logic and philosophy. He traces how constants such as π, e, the golden ratio, and the Feigenbaum constants appear universally across nature, physics, biology, and technology—suggesting they are discovered features of reality rather than human inventions. El-Mokadem highlights how mathematics repeatedly expands its own boundaries, from accepting imaginary numbers to assigning meaning to divergent infinities through Ramanujan's work. He shows that even chaos follows hidden numerical order, and that numbers long viewed as paradoxical often turn out to be indispensable. Throughout, mathematics emerges not as cold abstraction, but as a living language that reveals structure, mystery, and beauty in the universe. The discussion ultimately invites listeners to see math as a bridge between human curiosity and the deep order of the cosmos.
45 min - From Earth to Mars: A Rock's View with Jan ZalasiewiczFrom Oak Ridge, Tennessee, AMSEcast host Alan Lowe sits down with geologist and paleontologist Dr. Jan Zalasiewicz, chair of the Anthropocene Working Group and author of How to Read a Rock. Their conversation explores how rocks and minerals form and what they reveal about Earth's history, from the rock cycle and earthquakes to ancient climates recorded in stone. Jan explains how life, human activity, and materials like bricks and concrete have reshaped geology, and how coal, oil, and gas fit into Earth's carbon cycle. The discussion also looks outward to the Moon and Mars, where rocks offer clues to planetary history and the possibility of past life. Guest Bio Dr. Jan Zalasiewicz is a geologist and paleontologist and an emeritus professor of paleobiology at the University of Leicester. He serves as chair of the Anthropocene Working Group, which has played a leading role in advancing the idea of the Anthropocene as a new geologic epoch shaped by humanity's impact on Earth. A prolific and widely published author, Jan explores how rocks, fossils, and landscapes record the planet's deep history. His books include The Cosmic Oasis: The Remarkable Story of Earth's Biosphere, Discarded: How Technofossils Will Be Our Ultimate Legacy, and How to Read a Rock: Our Planet's Hidden Stories, which is the focus of today's conversation. 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
- 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
29 min - AMSE Science Report with Alan Chodos and James Riordon
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 needed to learn more so I spoke on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Alan Chodos and James Riordon about their fascinating book, Ghost Particle: In Search of the Elusive and Mysterious Neutrino.
5 min - AMSE Science Report with Robert Hettich
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 biome or family of bacteria, that lives in your digestive system - our growing understanding of that symbiotic relationship has made prebiotics and probiotics for digestive health a big business
5 min - Why We Go to Space: Curiosity, Innovation, and the Human Spirit with William HarrisIn 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 historic artifacts, immersive experiences, and cutting-edge STEM programming to demystify space exploration and inspire the next generation of innovators. From Apollo and the Space Shuttle to Artemis, Mars, and the James Webb Space Telescope, this conversation dives deep into how humans have made the impossible possible, often with limited technology but unlimited curiosity. William also discusses workforce development, diversity in innovation, the power of failure, and why STEM truly is for everyone. If you're fascinated by space, innovation, education, or the future of exploration, this episode offers a powerful reminder of what humans can achieve when curiosity, collaboration, and courage come together. Highlights: (00:00) Introduction to Amse Cast (00:46) Guest Introduction: William Harris (01:44) Exploring Space Center Houston (03:12) Key Exhibits and Artifacts (06:24) STEM Education Initiatives (08:57) Innovation Gateway Programs (16:40) The Legacy of the Space Shuttle (18:56) Artemis and the Future of Space Exploration (23:18) Unmanned Missions and Their Impact (35:14) Conclusion and Future Plans40 min
- AMSEcast with guests Alan Chodos and James Riordon
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 guide readers through discoveries such as neutrino "flavors," oscillations, and the surprising realization that neutrinos have mass—challenging the Standard Model of particle physics. Cutting-edge research is connecting neutrinos to cosmic phenomena, including supernovae, the interior of the Sun, and the structure of the galaxy itself. Neutrinos may unlock answers to some of the universe's deepest mysteries, from the imbalance between matter and antimatter to the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
29 min - How to Kill an Asteroid
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 book, How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense.
4 min - Inside The Franklin Institute with Larry DubinskiAlan 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 Collections Gallery, and historic patent models, and online series like Ingenious and The Road to 2050. Dubinski emphasizes fostering lifelong learning, diverse voices, and bold leadership to sustain innovation. Episode Highlights
- (1:16) When The Franklin Institute was established and its mission
- (1:58) Why Benjamin Franklin still looms large over so many subjects
- (2:48) How Franklin's story is preserved and presented at the institute
- (3:33) Why the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive is such a great engineering innovation
- (6:47) Exploring the museum's artifacts in "Ingenious: The Evolution of Innovation"
- (8:23) Why the U.S. has such an ability for creating new technologies and creative problem solving
- (9:06) How we can continue being leaders and innovators for the next 250 years
- The Franklin Institute: FiHome | The Franklin Institute https://fi.edu/
13 min - Franklin's Curiosity Unpacked with Richard MunsonAlan 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 inventions like the lightning rod, reflecting his Enlightenment commitment to reason and inquiry. His scientific fame later boosted his diplomatic mission in France, where his celebrity status helped secure essential support for American independence. Episode Highlights
- (1:18) How Benjamin Franklin's printing success allowed him to pursue science
- (4:59) The role of Poor Richard's Almanac in Franklin's life
- (7:27) What was known about electricity before his experiments and how he advanced it
- (9:35) Benjamin Franklin's invention of the lightning rod
- (11:22) What motivated Franklin to be constantly active
- (16:55) His role in America's future alliance with France
- (17:45) Why so many biographers have pushed Benjamin Franklin's scientific work to the side
- (19:40) What Richard Munson is working on now
- Tech to Table: 25 Innovators Reimagining Food: https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Table-Innovators-Reimagining-Food/dp/1642831905
- Ingenious: A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Scientist: https://www.amazon.com/Ingenious-Biography-Benjamin-Franklin-Scientist-ebook/dp/B0CTXNJL6Y
- Power Corrupts: Cleaning Up America's Biggest Industry: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Corrupts-Cleaning-Americas-Industry/dp/1538199394
23 min
About AMSEcast
From the publisher's feed
Produced from the American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSEcast invites guests from the world of science, literature, and technology to share unique perspectives from the realm of the highly trained…
and curiously minded.
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