Author Michelle Shocklee discusses her novel The Women of Oak Ridge and the personal, historical, and emotional paths that led her to the story of the Secret City during the Manhattan Project. Growing up near Los Alamos and coming from a World War II family shaped her long-standing connection to the era, but a chance encounter with a reader ultimately sparked her discovery of Oak Ridge. Shocklee describes her deep research process, drawing on oral histories, archival photographs, museum resources, and firsthand accounts to authentically portray life inside a city built on secrecy. She explains how she weaves history into fiction by grounding the narrative in the lived experiences of her characters, particularly women whose wartime work reshaped their futures. The conversation highlights the challenges of secrecy, segregation, and stress faced by Oak Ridge residents, as well as the lasting impact of women entering the workforce during the war. Ultimately, Shocklee reflects on Oak Ridge as both a hidden chapter of history and a powerful source of human resilience and transformation.

In this episode of AMSECast, Dr. Samantha Schrell explores the fascinating and often mysterious world of actinides—rare, radioactive elements with powerful applications in medicine, energy, space exploration, and national security. She explains what makes actinides unique, why they are difficult to study, and how elements like californium play a critical role in starting nuclear reactors and powering space missions. Dr. Schrell also discusses Oak Ridge National Laboratory's long-standing leadership in producing and researching heavy actinides through the High Flux Isotope Reactor. The conversation highlights the mission of the Glenn T. Seaborg Institute: building a pipeline of scientists and engineers trained to work in this highly specialized field. Through fellowships, collaboration across national labs, and cutting-edge research, the Institute is ensuring the future of actinide science. Ultimately, the episode reveals how curiosity, expertise, and education drive innovation at the atomic edge.

In this episode of AMSEcast, host Alan Lowe welcomes back science journalist and NASA senior science writer James Riordon to discuss his new book Crush: Close Encounters With Gravity. Riordon explores the fascinating science of gravity, from Isaac Newton's groundbreaking laws to Albert Einstein's revolutionary theory of general relativity. The conversation dives into how gravity shapes everything from the structure of Earth to the behavior of black holes and gravitational waves. Riordon also explains the strange effects of weightlessness on the human body, the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, and the possibility of exotic phenomena like wormholes. Blending history, physics, and cutting-edge discoveries, this episode offers an accessible look at one of the universe's most fundamental forces and the scientists who helped us understand it.