Épisodes

  • AMSE Science Report with Katie McKissick

    AMSE Science Report with Katie McKissick
    Feb 2 2025

    Katie McKissick, author of the book DNA is You: The Marvelous Science Behind Your One-Of-A-Kind-Ness is our guest on this episode of The AMSE Science Report. Our wide ranging conversation looks at the mechanisms of DNA and how it shapes our lives.
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    4 min
  • Building the Empire of the Sum with Keith Houston

    Building the Empire of the Sum with Keith Houston
    Jan 29 2025
    Keith Houston is the author of Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator. He joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to discuss the history of calculating. From the ancient Lebombo bone to mechanical calculators, Keith covers the evolution of calculating tools. This includes modern milestones like John Napier’s logarithms, the HP-35 scientific calculator, and the TI-81’s impact on U.S. classrooms. Keith also discusses his forthcoming book, Face With Tears of Joy. In this book, he explores the history, culture, and governance of emojis. Guest Bio Keith Houston is the author of many books. In Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator, he explores the story behind this revolutionary tool. Keith is also the creator of the Shady Characters blog where he covers the history of punctuation and typography. He is working on a new book that dives into the history of emojis. Show Highlights
    • (1:55) When humans started counting
    • (4:37) How the abacus and counting board advanced our ability to calculate
    • (6:28) The creation of the algorithm
    • (11:13) Why the Curta stands out in the evolution of the calculator
    • (18:00) Why the Pocketronic from Texas Instruments was so groundbreaking
    • (25:44) How the HANDY-LE fits into the story of calculating
    • (26:30) HP’s role in revolutionizing calculating with the HP-35
    • (29:05) How the TI-81 was able to be found in classrooms around the world
    • (34:15) America’s reaction to calculators in the classroom setting
    • (36:17) What’s next for Keith Houston
    Links Referenced
    • Shady Characters: https://shadycharacters.co.uk/
    • Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks: https://www.amazon.com/Shady-Characters-Punctuation-Symbols-Typographical/dp/0393064425
    • The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Cover-Cover-Exploration-Powerful/dp/1324086351/
    • Empire of the Sum: The Rise and Reign of the Pocket Calculator: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Sum-Reign-Pocket-Calculator/dp/0393882144
    • Face With Tears of Joy: https://www.amazon.com/Face-Tears-Joy-Natural-History/dp/1324075147
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    40 min
  • AMSEcast Conversations: Climate Change Science from Eisenhower to Bush

    AMSEcast Conversations: Climate Change Science from Eisenhower to Bush
    Jan 15 2025
    Alan Lowe, Executive Director of the American Museum of Science and Energy, launches AMSEcast Conversations with a compelling discussion on Jay Hakes’ book, The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science from Eisenhower to Bush. The panel, featuring Hakes alongside energy experts David McCollum and Charles Sims, traces the origins of modern climate science to the 1950s work of Roger Revelle and Dave Keeling. The panel explores the evolution of climate science, the challenges of political resistance, and the growing urgency of action in the face of today’s visible climate impacts. Their discussion emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and persistence in addressing global climate challenges. Guest Bio Jay Hakes is an accomplished author and energy policy expert whose latest book, The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science from Eisenhower to Bush, explores the intersection of science and leadership. Previously, Jay authored Energy Crises: Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Hard Choices in the 1970s. He served for 13 years as Director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta and was Administrator of the Energy Information Administration during the Clinton administration. Jay also worked under President Obama as Director of Research and Policy for the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Commission, bringing deep expertise to critical energy challenges. David McCollum is a leading expert in energy and environmental policy, serving as part of the distinguished R&D staff in the Mobility and Energy Transitions Analysis Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He also holds a joint faculty appointment at the University of Tennessee’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs in Knoxville. David’s work focuses on the critical intersections of energy systems, transportation, and sustainability, bringing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to a low-carbon future. His expertise bridges research and policy, making him a key voice in addressing global energy and climate issues. Charles Sims is an expert in energy and environmental policy, currently serving as the director of the Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee (UT) in Knoxville. He holds the TVA Distinguished Professorship of Energy and Environmental Policy at UT's Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs and is also an associate professor in the Department of Economics. Charles' work focuses on the economic and policy implications of energy systems and environmental challenges, offering valuable insights into the complex relationship between energy, transportation, and sustainable development. Show Highlights
    • (2:49) When scientists realized that climate was changing and human activities were the major cause
    • (4:35) The Keeling Curve
    • (7:18) Why the public’s perception of climate change has shifted over the years
    • (17:14) Eisenhower’s introduction to climate change and its impact on Atoms for Peace
    • (20:49) JFK’s awareness of the climate change issue
    • (26:38) How climate change factored into decisions made during LBJ’s Great Society
    • (31:20) President Nixon and climate change
    • (38:23) The failed marriage between climate science and nuclear power
    • (41:36) Facing climate change on an international scale
    • (48:42) How to test sources on climate change and the importance of good communication
    • (54:16) Are there any positive outlooks on climate change at this point in time?
    Links Referenced
    • The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science from Eisenhower to Bush: https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Planet-Climate-Politics-Eisenhower/dp/0807181900
    • Energy Crises: Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Hard Choices in the 1970s: https://www.amazon.com/Energy-Crises-Choices-Environment-America/dp/0806168528
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    1 h et 3 min
  • A Theory of Everyone with Michael Muthukrishna

    A Theory of Everyone with Michael Muthukrishna
    Jan 2 2025
    Dr. Michael Muthukrishna, Associate Professor at LSE, joins Alan to explore his book, A Theory of Everyone. It reveals how cultural evolution—our “software” of beliefs, language, and logic—shaped humanity's unique trajectory. He explains the "laws" of energy and innovation: energy abundance fuels cooperation and progress, while innovations like the steam engine drive efficiency and competition. Michael highlights the "paradox of diversity," where fresh ideas thrive amid aligned communication and norms. He links societal challenges like division and inequality to resource scarcity and calls for leveraging technologies like AI and startup cities to foster collaboration, sustainable innovation, and global progress. Guest Bio Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is an Associate Professor of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics, with a unique academic foundation in software engineering and psychology from the University of Queensland, and advanced degrees from the University of British Columbia. He has held prestigious roles at Harvard, Yale, and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Recognized for his groundbreaking work, Michael has received accolades like the 2024 Excellence in Quantitative Methods Research Award and a John Templeton Foundation grant. He is the author of the acclaimed book, A Theory of Everyone, which redefines how we understand human evolution and progress. Show Highlights
    • (2:24) What A Theory of Everyone entails
    • (12:14) The fundamental “law” of energy
    • (20:31) The “law” of innovation
    • (22:47) COMPASS - the seven secrets of innovation
    • (26:22) The paradox of diversity
    • (30:20) How humans’ big heads have affected our evolution
    • (38:11) The next level of human cultural evolution
    • (46:25) The necessary steps to the next stage of tying societies back together
    • (52:10) How to protect the engine of growth amidst negative circumstances
    • (54:23) What’s next for Michael Muthukrisha
    Links Referenced
    • A Theory of Everyone: The New Science of Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going: https://www.amazon.com/Theory-Everyone-Science-where-Going/dp/026204837X
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    58 min
  • AMSE Science Report The Physics of Santa

    AMSE Science Report The Physics of Santa
    Dec 21 2024

    A few thoughts on the 24 hour, madcap & meteoric flight across the planet
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    4 min
  • The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik

    The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik
    Dec 18 2024
    Alan, an ant enthusiast since childhood, is joined by Susanne Foitzik, author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors. She explains that while queens start colonies and lay eggs, they don’t control the colony. Worker ants take on specialized roles like brood care and foraging, with older ants handling riskier tasks. Ants communicate through pheromones and use impressive navigation skills. Some species, like the Argentine and fire ants, thrive in new environments due to human transport, forming super colonies. Susanne’s current research focuses on how ants regulate labor division and how parasites impact their behavior and longevity. Guest Bio Dr. Susanne Foitzik is a professor of evolutionary biology, Vice Dean of the biology faculty, and Acting Director of the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. She has held academic positions at Ludwig Maximilian University, the University of Regensburg, and as a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University. With a doctoral degree in biology and a habilitation in zoology, Susanne is widely published and the author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors, a captivating exploration of ant behavior and ecology. Show Notes
    • (2:12) How many species of ants there are
    • (3:46) The role of ant queens and how they’re made
    • (5:55) The different functions ants take on in the colony
    • (9:01) How nests are created
    • (11:02) How ants communicate and navigate
    • (16:01) How certain ants have developed the ability to maintain livestock and how they do it
    • (19:01) Ants’ more aggressive behaviors
    • (22:34) What turns ants into “zombies”
    • (25:34) The social immune system of ants
    • (28:42) Invasive species of ants
    • (32:39) Understanding ant-tink
    • (34:31) What Susanne is working on now
    Links Referenced
    • Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth’s Tiny Conquerors: https://www.amazon.com/Superpowers-Six-Legs-Hidden-Lives/dp/1615197125
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    41 min
  • AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin

    AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin
    Dec 14 2024

    Following the horrific devastation wreaked by Hurricane Helene, I was so heartened to see many in our community and around the nation come together to help those who had lost everything.

    I had spoken a while back on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Eric Jay Dolin about his book, A Furious Sky: The 500 Year History of America’s Hurricanes. We talked about some of those storms, including the Galveston, Texas, Hurricane of 1900. The people there had been encouraged to think a hurricane could not do any serious damage to their island home due to a deeply flawed understanding of how those storms work. The results were horrendous. Eric and I also spoke about how modern technologies help us predict and track these monster storms.
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    4 min
  • A reflection of the year 2000

    A reflection of the year 2000
    Dec 14 2024

    A few thoughts about the technological development and advancement over the past 25 years.
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    4 min