Welcome to the home of AMSEcast, STEM of History and the AMSE Science Report

Episodes

Jan. 15, 2025

AMSEcast Conversations: Climate Change Science from Eisenhower to Bush

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,...

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Jan. 2, 2025

A Theory of Everyone with Michael Muthukrishna

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...

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Dec. 21, 2024

AMSE Science Report The Physics of Santa

Santa's madcap meteoric flight

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Dec. 18, 2024

The Hidden Lives of Ants with Susanne Foitzik

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...

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Dec. 14, 2024

A reflection of the year 2000

Tech gap of 25 years

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Dec. 14, 2024

AMSE Science Report with guest Eric Jay Dolin

Author Eric Jay Dolin discusses topics from his book, A Furious Sky: The 500 Year History of America’s Hurricanes

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Dec. 4, 2024

Finding a Lab of One’s Own with Dr. Rita Colwell

Dr. Rita Colwell is a pioneering scientist and professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins who has made groundbreaking contributions to microbiology and public health. She joins AMSEcast to discuss her experiences being the first woman...

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Dec. 3, 2024

AMSE Science Report with guest Camper English

Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails by author Camper English

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Dec. 3, 2024

The Wonders of Psychological Science with Joel Levy

Renowned author and science historian, Joel Levy, shares his expertise on consciousness, intelligence, and the delicate dance between nature and nurture. Through his latest work, "Psychology for Busy People," the discussion traverses psychology's...

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Dec. 3, 2024

AMSE Science Report with Carl Zimmer

The Search for What It Means to Be Alive with author Carl Zimmer

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Nov. 20, 2024

Finding Balance Between Tightness & Looseness with Dr. Michele Gelfand

Dr. Michele Gelfand is a cultural psychologist and author of Rule Makers, Rule Breakers. She joins us to discusses how “tight” and “loose” cultures shape societies. Tight cultures, like Japan’s, respond to threats with strict rules and...

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Nov. 6, 2024

How Windell Oskay is Inspiring a New Generation of Mad Scientists

In this episode, Alan talks with Windell Oskay, co-founder of Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. Windell discusses updating Make: The Annotated Build-it-Yourself Science Laboratory, a childhood favorite of his, to inspire today’s young scientists....

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Nov. 4, 2024

AMSE Science Report with guest Luis Elizondo

A truly incredible, candid, eye-opening conversation with Luis Elizondo

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Nov. 4, 2024

AMSE Science Report Sava Sobel

Dava Sobel is an American writer of popular expositions of scientific topics. Her books include , about English clockmaker ; , about 's daughter ; and The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the...

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Nov. 4, 2024

AMSE Science Report with Ian McNeely

The collection and use of knowledge

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Oct. 30, 2024

The Many Technological Advancements of Asad Madni

Alan Lowe sits down with the renowned Dr. Asad Madni. Dr. Madni shares his extraordinary journey as an engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur, detailing his groundbreaking contributions to fields like digital signal processing, MEMS technology, and...

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Oct. 23, 2024

On the Hunt for UFOs with Luis Elizondo

Alan is joined by Luis Elizondo, former military intelligence officer and author of Imminent: Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs. Lou shares his journey from joining JROTC to his work in the Pentagon's classified UFO program. He describes...

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Oct. 9, 2024

The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic…

Alan Lowe, director of the American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) introduces a live audience to the first-ever AMSEcast Conversation. Held in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the event featured a panel of experts discussing the historical significance of...

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Oct. 1, 2024

AMSE Science Report with author Seirian Sumner

Author of The Secret World of Wasps

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Oct. 1, 2024

AMSE Science Report Sally Adee, author of We Are Electric: Inside the…

explores the ways our bioelectrical makeup is central to our lives

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Sept. 25, 2024

Adding a New Twist to Our Understanding of the Cosmos with Dr. John R…

In this episode, Alan engages in a captivating conversation with Dr. John Rather, a renowned scientist with an extensive career spanning astronomical research and government positions. Dr. Rather breaks down his groundbreaking work on a new...

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Sept. 11, 2024

Getting the Most Out of Getting Older with Dr. Aditi Gurkar

Alan Lowe interviews Dr. Aditi Gurkar, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Aging Institute. Dr. Gurkar discusses her transition from medical doctor to becoming a leading researcher in aging, driven by her grandfather’s cancer...

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Sept. 3, 2024

AMSE Science Report with guest Jon Butterworth

Higgs Boson and the world of particle physics

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