The Lab With Brad

On sunshine and the oldest stars

We spend some time figuring out what powers our sun, and give a respectful nod towards the oldest stars in the universe.

Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.

Take 117 of Episode One: Cowboys and creepy girls

Here’s something on the failed attempts to detect our motion against the supposed ether.

The Michelson-Morley Experiment

Here’s an article on the discovery of spontaneous radioactivity.

This Month in Physics History

Here’s a little bit on red dwarfs.

Red Dwarfs: The Most Common and Longest-Lived Stars

And here’s a list of 7 of the oldest stars that we know of.

7 Oldest Stars in the Universe

We got the universe wrong

At the beginning of the 20th century, the universe was 100,000 lightyears across, and static. How we found out that was wrong.

Here’s an article about v1, and how it made the universe much bigger.

Hubble Views the Star That Changed the Universe

And because it came up, and your hosts were still confused, here’s something on the differences between an oval and an ellipse.

Oval vs Ellipse with Diagram

Hidden in the light

Today, Newton shows us why planets move as they do, and we find out how we know what stars are made of.

Here are a couple of sites on spectroscopy, and its history.

The history of spectroscopy - from the flame test to the AAS

MIT Spectroscopy Lab - History

Because it is so much easier to follow in a video, here’s a video about what an ellipse is.

What is Ellipse?

Better glass, lenses, mirrors, and a star to sail by

The debate over the Earth or Sun in the middle continues, and we take a look at navigating by the stars.

Here’s an article on navigating by the stars.

How to Navigate the Ocean Using Stars

Here’s a video on using the Sun for navigation.

How to Navigate by the Sun

And here are two videos on using the stars to navigate.

Using Stars to Navigate

How To Navigate Using the Stars

To learn the sky

From prehistory to Babylon to the ancient Greeks, humanity begins to learn what our sky is up to, pardon the pun.

Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.

Take 116 of Episode One: The kiss of death!

Here’s a video on the history of astronomy.

The History Of Astronomy

Here’s an article on the history of astronomy.

History of Astronomy

And here’s a bit about the history of mirrors.

Through A Glass, Darkly

On hearing, listening, and Ralph the robot hand

For our last episode of 2022, we take a look at communication between the deaf community and the rest of us.

Here’s a video on the history and use of sign language.

American Sign Language: The Complete History

Here are a couple of articles providing an overview of assistive technology for the deaf.

How tech is improving lives in the deaf and hard of hearing community

Assistive Devices for People with Hearing or Speech Disorders

Here’s a video on the history of hearing aids.

The History of Hearing Aids

Here’s something on the history of speech recognition software.

A brief history of speech recognition

And here’s an article on sign language translation devices.

Sign Language Translating Devices Are Cool. But Are They Useful?

Voices, bits, Braille and bellows

Close your eyes and use your computer. We take a look at technology used to allow the blind to use computers and the internet.

Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.

Take 114 of Episode one: Everything is better with pie!

Here’s an article about how computers learned how to talk.

History of speech synthesis

Here’s a video, including samples of different speech synthesizers.

The Evolution of Computer Speech

Here’s an article on the people who developed screen reader software.

The blind programmers who created screen readers

And here’s a video about Braille displays.

A History of Refreshable Braille

For better and worse, the internet is born

After all the effort to communicate by wire and wireless, computers got in on the action. Let’s examine the beginnings of the internet.

Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.

Take 113 of Episode One: Reasons to own a pit

Today we have two videos, both with the same name—“history of the internet.” One short and one long.

Here’s the short one.

HISTORY OF THE INTERNET

And here’s the long one.

History of the Internet

Getting wired and wireless

Join us as telegraph and radio begin to make the world a smaller place.

Check out our latest attempt at Episode One.

Take 111, Tricks and kicks

Here’s an article on the cable laid across the Atlantic to send messages that didn’t quite work.

The First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable Was a Bold, Short-Lived Success

And here’s a brief history of the speed of light.

A Brief History of the Speed of Light

The digital revolution, and a bit o’ spooky

Join us for a thumbnail sketch of how modern computers came about, and then began to double in capability each year.

Here’s an article about the spooky bit.

The Real Electric Frankenstein Experiments of the 1800s

Here’s something on the history of lithography.

A Printing Revolution: The History of Lithography

Here’s an article about the lucky accident that made modern computers possible.

Silicon Burns

And here are links to the episodes that cover today’s topic in more detail.

Ep 285: A lucky accident

Ep 286: Say cheese!