The Nuclear Navy's Oak Ridge, TN beginning
Author speaks about book: The Quest for the Cosmic Dawn
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...
Gunpowder changed the world
A discussion on Dr. Braje's book, Understanding Imperiled Earth
A conversation with Lorraine Daston
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 ...
A glimpse into General Douglas MacArthur
From Skunk Works to the National Academy of Engineering
Menlo Park and innovation
Jack Kelly joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to talk about his book Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics. They discuss gunpowder’s accidental invention in 10th-century China and its explosive mix of saltpeter, ...
Alan Lowe speaks with Dr. Simon Cordery about the transformative role of railroads in American history. From the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1828 to a national network by 1916, Cordery details how rail shaped commerce, ind...
Alan talks with historian Walter Borneman about his book MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific. They examine General Douglas MacArthur’s early career, his leadership in the Philippines, and his strategic command from ...
Uranium: War, Energy, and the Rock that Shaped the World, Author speaks
Alan Lowe speaks with Dr. Margaret Weitekamp of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum about its transformation ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. They explore how new exhibits, immersive storytelling, and iconic ...
Kathleen Carlucci, director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, joins AMSEcast to discuss Edison’s lasting impact on American innovation. From his early love of telegraphy to his system-wide inventions in sound, light,...
Dr. Josh Levy is a historian of science and technology at the Library of Congress. In this episode of AMSEcast, he highlights key figures and artifacts from all across America’s innovation history. From Samuel Morse’s early t...
Alan is joined by Peter Armstrong, president of Mystic Seaport Museum, to continue our celebration of 250 years of American innovation. Peter reflects on his 25 years in museum leadership and shares insights into Mystic’s long shipbuilding history....
AMSEcast continues celebrating 250 years of American innovation with Curtis Gregory. A park ranger at the George Washington Carver National Monument, Curtis sits down with Alan to share Carver’s inspiring journey from enslavement to becoming a...
Alan speaks with Dr. Guru Madhavan at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, as we continue our series marking 250 years of American innovation. Guru, a leader at the National Academy of Engineering, explores the Academy’s Civil War...
AMSEcast celebrates 250 years of American innovation with Dr. Andrew Hammond, historian and curator at the International Spy Museum. Hammond explores the evolution of intelligence and espionage, from trial-and-error codebreaking by pioneers like the...
We continue to celebrate 250 years of American innovation with Don Bennett, Deputy Associate Director of the U.S. Mint’s Manufacturing Directorate. He joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to talk about the Mint’s history, operations, and...