On todays Modern Notion Daily podcast, were talking with Michael Hiltzik, author of Big Science: Ernest Lawrence and the Invention that Launched the Military-Industrial Complex (Simon andamp; Schuster, July 2015). Hiltzik chronicles the life of Lawrence and his machine, the cyclotron (also known as the proton accelerator). This invention, Hiltzik argues, was the beginning of the military-industrial complex and big science. Later in the hour, we replay a story by reporter Daniel A. Gross about the post-World War II life of the cyclotron.

Music this hour:

“Soldiertype (militarised)” by Ketsa, from the album What’s Without’s Within

“Theme E” by Steve Combs andamp; Delta Is, from the album Themes (Vol. 1)

The Professors Lab by Christian Bjoerklund, from the album Skapmat

Electron by Podington Bear, from the album Reflective

“Superconductivity” by Jahzzar, from the album Kuddelmuddel