Host Alan Lowe continues AMSEcast’s exploration of 250 years of American innovation with Smithsonian experts Harold Wallace Jr., Dr. Eric Hintz, and Tim Pula. Together, they trace invention from Benjamin Franklin’s experiments to modern breakthroughs, highlighting the Smithsonian’s exhibitions, collections, and hands-on learning at Spark!Lab. The discussion spans collaboration with the Library of Congress, the role of failure in creativity, and how patents shape (but don’t define) innovation. The guests also reflect on nuclear technology’s history and social impact, and share how listeners can connect with the Lemelson Center and its nationwide Spark!Lab network inspiring inventors of all ages. Guest Bio Harold Wallace Jr., curator of the electricity collections, holds an MA and a PhD from the University of Maryland and specializes in the history of electric light and power. Dr. Eric Hintz, acting director of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, earned his MA and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and curates exhibits on invention and creativity. Tim Pula, interpretive exhibits inventor for Spark!Lab, designs hands-on activities that inspire visitors of all ages to explore the process and spirit of invention. Show Highlights (3:13) How the Smithsonian shares Franklin’s contributions for the understanding of electricity and innovation (6:24) How the Lemelson Center uses examples of American inventors as part of their work and research (7:57) The back-and-forth of learning from shared collections (9:55) The inventions and ideas explored at Spark!Lab (11:08) The artifacts used to tell the Edison story (14:58) How failure factors into the discussion of innovation at the Lemelson Center (17:42) The processes inventors followed to become innovative in their fields (22:42) Patent models in the electrical collection of the Smithsonian Institute (26:11) How the Lemelson Center and Spark!Lab approaches the patent process (30:33) How the evolution of nuclear technology is represented (35:20) How to learn more about the offerings from the Smithsonian, Lemelson Center, and Spark! Lab Links Referenced Wallops Station and the Creation of an American Space Program: https://www.amazon.com/Wallops-Station-Creation-American-Program/dp/1018138579 Inventing for Sports: https://scholarlypress.si.edu/store/all/inventing-for-sports/ American Independent Inventors in An Era of Corporate R&D: https://www.amazon.com/Independent-Inventors-Corporate-Invention-Innovation/dp/0262542587 Does America Need More Innovators: https://www.amazon.com/America-Innovators-Lemelson-Invention-Innovation/dp/0262536730 Lemelson Center: https://invention.si.edu Smithsonian main website: https://www.si.edu/ American History Museum: https://americanhistory.si.edu/ Smithsonian Collections Search Center: https://collections.si.edu
Dr. Robert Hettich is a pioneer in bioanalytical mass spectrometry. In this episode of AMSEcast, he describes how microbiomes form, vary across the body, and influence digestion, immunity, and overall health. Dr. Hettich also explains metaproteomics, the study of microbial proteins, to reveal how microbes function beyond their genes as well as their applications from human health to environmental cleanup and bioenergy. Inspired by his daughter’s experience with Crohn’s, Robert Hettich is especially focused on microbiomes’ links to inflammatory and neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Guest Bio Dr. Robert Hettich is a corporate fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and leader of its Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group in the Biosciences Division. He also serves as joint faculty in the Microbiology Department at the University of Tennessee. Earning his BS from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University, Dr. Hettich joined ORNL in 1986 and has since become a pioneer in microbiome and mass spectrometry research. Widely published and honored with multiple awards, he is recognized for advancing our understanding of complex microbial systems and their impact on health. Show Highlights (1:45) What is a microbe? (2:57) What is a microbiome? (3:31) When microbiomes begin to develop in the body (5:42) How microbiomes differ throughout the body (7:51) The role of probiotics and prebiotics in microbiomes (10:03) The effect of anti-microbial medication on microbiomes (12:05) What metaproteomics is and what tools are required for it (16:03) The role of microbiomes in development or materials, fuel, and other resources (18:42) What Dr. Robert Hettich is most concerned about for his research Links Referenced Dr. Robert Hettich’s email address: hettichrl@ornl.gov
Dr. Colwell shares her insight on the progression of women in science through the years. Framed by her own experiences we learn about her incredible work.
Railroads have shaped America’s growth, technology, and daily life for nearly two centuries. In this episode of AMSEcast, Alan talks with Dr. Albert Churella of Kennesaw State University about how innovations such as the automatic knuckle coupler, Westinghouse’s air brake, and the move from steam to diesel transformed safety and efficiency. Dr. Churella explains how signaling, centralized traffic control, and GPS-based Positive Train Control modernized operations. While U.S. passenger service lags Europe, its freight rail system leads the world in ton-miles, fuel efficiency, and low emissions. Albert also previews his forthcoming book on Conrail, reflecting on the railroad industry’s resilience, its economic impact, and its enduring relevance today. About Dr. Albert Churella Dr. Albert Churella is a leading scholar of transportation history and policy with a particular focus on railroads. He earned both his MA and PhD from The Ohio State University and now serves as a professor at Kennesaw State University. Albert’s research explores how railroads shaped American economic growth, technology, and public policy, linking the past to today’s transportation challenges. His work combines rigorous scholarship with a clear, engaging style that reaches beyond academic audiences. In addition to his extensive publications, Albert is widely regarded as an expert who makes the complex history of railroads accessible and relevant to modern readers. Show Highlights (1:40) When the first train operated in the United States (14:13) America’s addition of the air brake and the automatic coupler (28:12) When track signals came into use (40:05) Are trains high-tech now? (45:04) The transition from steam to diesel and where the advancement was developed (58:29) Why railways are still important in the US (1:02:52) What Dr. Albert Churella is working on now Links Referenced The Pennsylvania Railroad three-volume series: https://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Railroad-Building-1846-1917-American/dp/081224348X https://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Railroad-1917-1933-Railroads-Present/dp/0253066352 https://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Railroad-Decline-1933-1968-Railroads/dp/0253069475
Author Richard Ellis speaks about his latest book The Quest for the Cosmic Dawn. A breakdown of the earliest moments of our celestial cosmic soup.
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 over 2,000 tremors felt across 1.5 million square miles, and the deep historical context behind them. He explains the ancient origins of the Reelfoot Rift, Tecumseh’s eerie quake prophecy, and how early steamboat travel intersected with disaster. Feldman also recounts a horrific crime against an enslaved teenager, exposed by the quakes, and touches on ongoing seismic risk today. He also discusses reflections from his new memoir. Guest Bio Jay Feldman is an author, historian, and storyteller with a uniquely diverse background. Before turning to writing full-time, he worked as a musician and ran a music store specializing in vintage stringed instruments. He also founded Baseball for Peace, an organization promoting international understanding through sports, and has written for both television and the stage. Feldman is the author of Manufacturing Hysteria: A History of Scapegoating, Surveillance, and Secrecy in Modern America and When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes, which explores one of the most powerful and overlooked natural disasters in U.S. history. Show Highlights (4:32) When the earthquakes occurred and how many there were (9:23) The creation of the Reelfoot Rift and how it became the source of the quakes (12:38) What makes intraplate earthquakes different from other kinds (13:57) Why the Mississippi River ran backwards at the height of the quake (16:11) The creation of Reelfoot Lake (17:54) The legend of Tecumseh’s prophecy about the earthquakes (21:55) How the Roosevelt family was involved with the event (27:55) The crime that was revealed in the wreckage of the earthquakes (32:44) Seismic activity in the area today Links Referenced Manufacturing Hysteria: A History of Scapegoating, Surveillance, and Secrecy in Modern America: https://www.amazon.com/Manufacturing-Hysteria-History-Scapegoating-Surveillance/dp/0307388239 When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes: https://www.amazon.com/When-Mississippi-Ran-Backwards-Earthquakes/dp/0743242793
In this episode, Mr. Lowe interviews Mr. Augustine. They discuss a variety of fascinating roles that Mr. Augustine has served in over the course of his career. At Princeton he was advised to consider geological engineering but would go on to change his major to aeronautical engineering as he was advised by a peer “that is where the future was.” The range of topics they discuss include American competitiveness, the challenge of putting people on the moon, international travel, the importance of individual talent and the drive to achieve. Undertaking work in the sciences in the context of historical knowledge gives better perspective and provides access to lessons learned in the past.
In this excerpt from our podcast, AMSEcast, Jack Kelly, author of Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive that Changed the World. Discusses one of the most innovative and compounds ever manufactured.
Dr. Todd Braje, the Executive Director of the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, discusses his book, Understanding Imperiled Earth. He shows how analyzing data from many disciplines, such as archaeology and history, can help address some of the environmental challenges we face today.
We have a great conversation with Lorraine Daston editor of Science in the Archives: Pasts, Presents, Futures.
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 million visitors annually. Ed shares its educational mission, including a fifth-grade program and immersive exhibits like “Water is Life.” He also discusses archaeoastronomy, the cross-disciplinary study of ancient skywatching, and how visiting historical sites deepens our understanding of past cultures. From the Hopi village of Walpi to upcoming lunar livestreams at Chimney Rock, Ed continues to connect humanity’s cosmic curiosity across centuries through science, culture, and wonder. Guest Bio Dr. E.C. “Ed” Krupp has served as director of the world-renowned Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles since 1974, guiding it through transformative changes and welcoming over 1.6 million visitors annually. Under his leadership, the observatory has become the most visited public observatory on the planet. Ed is also a leading authority in the field of archaeoastronomy—the study of how ancient cultures understood the sky—and has authored several acclaimed books, including Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings: Astronomy and the Archaeology of Power. Known for his engaging insights and deep knowledge, Ed continues to inspire public curiosity about the cosmos and our place within it. Show Highlights (1:43) When Griffith Observatory was established and its mission (4:38) Exhibits and programs offered at the observatory (8:51) How they work with students (11:37) When archeoastronomy began to develop (17:02) How astronomical knowledge shapes our place in society and culture today (19:45) Places Ed has visited that have had the most impact on his work and life (25:13) What still perplexes Ed Krupp after all his traveling and learning (26:56) What’s next for Ed and the observatory Links Referenced Skywatchers, Shamans & Kings: Astronomy and the Archaeology of Power: https://www.amazon.com/Skywatchers-Shamans-Kings-Astronomy-Archaeology/dp/0471329754 Website: https://griffithobservatory.org
Highlights of conversations about innovation from AMSEcast. The Podcast of the American Museum of Science and Energy.
Noted historian Walter Borneman recently spoke to us about his book, MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific. Few characters loom as large in that war than Douglas MacArthur, and Walt’s book gives a terrific look at how this enigmatic man helped lead our nation to victory over the Japanese. After his narrow escape from the Philippines as the Japanese invaded, MacArthur set up his headquarters in Australia in a time that looked very bad for the allies. Walt offers unique perspective on MacArthur’s field of operations as the allies began to turn the tables against the Japanese empire.
On this episode, being recorded at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, DC, I’m very honored to be joined by Dr. Alton D. Romig, Jr. Al has had a truly exceptional career, full of more awards than I can list today. Most recently, for example, the 2024 IEEE McClure Citation of Honor for engineering leadership, and more positions than I can include today, but they’ve included leadership roles at Sandia National Lab, service as vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs, better known to all of us as the famous Skunk Works. And currently, Al serves as Executive Officer of the National Academy of Engineering.
We always celebrate at our museums the rich history of American innovation, but we’re putting a special spotlight on that history as we approach the nation’s semiquincentennial in 2026. To help us with that, we spoke on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Kathleen Carlucci, the Director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park. Thanks to his host of revolutionary innovations and inventions, Thomas Edison changed our world with technologies like the phonograph, motion pictures, electric light, and the list truly goes on and on. Altogether he obtained 1,093 US patents, and 1,250 patents in 34 other countries. At Menlo Park in New Jersey, Edison gathered an incredible team in one place to conceive and create these inventions, starting the whole concept of research and development and what we call today “Big Science.”
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, charcoal, and sulfur. Kelly explains how gunpowder shaped science and warfare, fueling revolutions in physics, ending the era of castles, and powering colonial empires. Though once too expensive for civilian use, gunpowder later drove mining and infrastructure projects before being replaced by safer, more powerful explosives like dynamite. Kelly also previews his upcoming book on Thomas Paine, highlighting Paine’s role as both Enlightenment thinker and Revolutionary soldier. Guest Bio Jack Kelly is an award-winning historian, journalist, and novelist, as well as a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow. His work has appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and American Heritage, and he’s been featured on NPR, PBS, and the History Channel. Jack’s books explore pivotal moments in history with vivid storytelling and sharp insight. His titles include Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal and God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man. His upcoming book is Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics, an explosive history of invention and empire. Show Highlights (1:24) When the Chinese invented gunpowder and when it arrived in Europe (2:35) The ingredients of gunpowder (3:54) Why saltpeter is such a challenging ingredient to produce (5:43) Challenges faced by European engineers in the production of gunpowder (8:34) What the development of chemistry revealed about how gunpowder works (10:46) How gunpowder influenced sciences like physics in Europe (12:51) When guns and cannons were introduced (14:12) Gunpowder’s impact on European architecture, such as castles (16:39) The commercial uses of gunpowder (20:12) Replacements for gunpowder in weapons and other explosives today (22:51) Modern uses for black powder (24:26) What Jack Kelly is currently working on Links Referenced Heaven’s Ditch: God, Gold, and Murder on the Erie Canal: https://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Ditch-Jack-Kelly-audiobook/dp/B01HU77DIC/ God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man: https://www.amazon.com/God-Save-Benedict-Arnold-Americas-ebook/dp/B0BQGFMLFK/ Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: The History of the Explosive that Changed the World: https://www.amazon.com/Gunpowder-Alchemy-Bombards-Pyrotechnics-Explosive-ebook/dp/B009IU57IS/
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, industry, and infrastructure. He also explores regulation, from early oversight efforts to the 1980 Staggers Act, which revitalized the struggling industry. The conversation touches on Amtrak’s dependence on subsidies, the challenges of expansion, and the promise of high-speed rail. Cordery also previews his book on Albert Pullman, a largely forgotten innovator behind the Pullman Company’s early success and a symbol of overlooked entrepreneurial ambition. Guest Bio Dr. Simon Cordery is Chair of the History Department at Iowa State University and a leading scholar of American labor and transportation history. He previously served as department chair at Western Illinois University and Monmouth College. Dr. Cordery has authored several acclaimed books, including Mother Jones: Raising Cain and Consciousness and The Iron Road in the Prairie State: The Story of Illinois Railroading. His forthcoming work, Gilded Age Entrepreneur: The Curious Life of American Financier Albert Benton Pullman, explores the overlooked legacy of the elder Pullman brother and offers fresh insight into the entrepreneurial spirit of 19th-century America. Show Highlights (2:14) When railroads first arrived in America and how quickly they spread (6:18) Changes in the business world that supported and continued railroad expansion (7:16) The impact of government oversight as the industry develops (14:47) When deregulation of the railroad industry occurred and the effects it had (19:46) The effects railroads had on labor organization and the labor market in America (22:32) How railroad expansion affected how we keep time throughout the U.S. (24:28) The effect of digital technology on the American railroad industry (31:47) Is high-speed rail a profitable enterprise? (35:23) Simon Cordery’s upcoming book, Gilded Age Entrepreneur: The Curious Life of American Financier Albert Benton Pullman Links Referenced Mother Jones: Raising Cain and Consciousness: https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Jones-Raising-Consciousness-Biography/dp/0826348106 The Iron Road in the Prairie State: The Story of Illinois Railroading: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Road-Prairie-State-Railroading-ebook/dp/B017SJ126Q Gilded Age Entrepreneur: The Curious Life of American Financier Albert Benton Pullman: https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Age-Entrepreneur-American-Financier-ebook/dp/B0DVMQHYWP
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 Australia. Borneman discusses MacArthur’s evolving coordination with the Navy, his key role in island-hopping operations, and his push to reclaim the Philippines. They also explore MacArthur’s late awareness of the atomic bomb, his post-war leadership as Supreme Commander in Japan, and his legacy as a pioneering military strategist and symbol of American resolve during World War II. Guest Bio Walter Borneman is an award-winning historian and author with a passion for bringing pivotal moments in American history to life. He earned his history degree from Western State College of Colorado and a law degree from the University of Denver. Borneman is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King and Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America. Show Highlights (1:22) Why MacArthur assumed the role of Field Marshal in the army of the Philippines (7:36) The evolution of MacArthur’s role in Australia and the Pacific Command (12:24) MacArthur’s role in formulating and then implementing the island-hopping plan (15:07) Why Walter thinks the Battle of Leyte Gulf may have been the greatest victory ever won by the United States Navy (17:39) MacArthur’s role in planning the invasion of the Japanese home islands (20:05) When he learned about the atomic bomb and his views on its use in the war (22:13) Why he was appointed the supreme commander of the Allied powers in Japan (25:22) How Walter Boneman would define MacArthur’s legacy in World War II (27:20) What Walter is working on next Links Referenced The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King: https://www.amazon.com/Admirals-Nimitz-Halsey-King-Five-Star-ebook/dp/B007ME5GYC Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Man-Transformed-Presidency-America-ebook/dp/B0026772GK/ MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific: https://www.amazon.com/MacArthur-War-World-II-Pacific-ebook/dp/B0151YQV20/ American POTUS: https://americanpotus.org/