Podcasts by The Sound of Science

Celebrating 80 Years: Meeting the Needs of a Changing World from 2023-10-11T15:56

In the first part of our 80th anniversary series, you heard how the Manhattan Project helped end World War II with the development and use of the world’s first nuclear weapons. The success of this ...

Soundbite: Lessons and Legacy - Oppenheimer and The Manhattan Project from 2023-07-20T15:21

As you heard in the last episode, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is celebrating its 80th anniversary. The lab was born out of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret mission that would bring an end to W...

Celebrating 80 Years: Top-Secret Science from 2023-07-07T13:05

Eighty years ago, the U.S. government embarked on a secret mission that would change the world. The Manhattan Project was a massive effort that resulted in the world’s first nuclear weapons and the...

HFIR: Leading the World in Isotopes and Science from 2023-05-31T17:00

For nearly six decades, the High Flux Isotope Reactor, or HFIR, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been one of the world’s most powerful research reactors. It has played a critical role in making...

FRIB: Bringing Cosmic Elements to Earth from 2022-12-22T11:10

When the universe was formed billions and billions of years ago, the building blocks of life were forged with it. Hydrogen, carbon, iron, nitrogen, calcium, oxygen are just a few of the elements bo...

Exascale: The New Frontier of Computing from 2022-08-01T09:27

In May 2022, history was made at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Frontier, the lab’s newest supercomputer, officially did what no other computer in the world had done before — it crossed the exascal...

Charging Up The Future of Transportation from 2022-04-22T20:49

Electrifying transportation is key to cutting carbon emissions. However, cumbersome cables, lengthy charge times and range anxiety have some potential electric vehicle adoptershesitant to make the ...

Soundbite: MPEX: Power, particles and plasma from 2021-12-20T10:13

Soundbite: In our last episode, you heard about how scientists are working to harness the power of the sun on earth with fusion. Achieving fusion on a large scale could bring about a new age of unl...

Fusion: Energy at the Extreme from 2021-12-06T10:12

Building a sun on Earth to produce unlimited, carbon-free energy may sound like science fiction, but it's not. It's a nuclear process called fusion, where two atoms join together and create an abun...

Soundbite: Meet FRED — Your Friendly Root Resource from 2021-08-23T06:34

Soundbite: Have you met FRED? The Fine Root Ecology Database — also known as FRED — is a collection of root trait data from research performed around the world. Roots play an important role in all ...

SPRUCE: Welcome to a Warmer Future from 2021-08-02T11:07

Deep in the forests of northern Minnesota, lies something that looks a little out-of-this-world. Long boardwalks connect a series of octagonal pods that serve as gateways into the future. But this ...

The Unseen World of Climate Change from 2021-04-22T13:48:08

The Arctic tundra of Alaska features a picturesque landscape, teeming with plants and wildlife. But below ground lies a significant threat to the environment. As temperatures rise around the globe,...

Soundbite: Quantum security for the grid from 2020-11-04T09:34:34

Soundbite of "The Sound of Science": In the last episode, we discussed the strange world of quantum mechanics. The laws of quantum mechanics describe the odd behavior of subatomic particles. Harnes...

Quantum science: Exploring subatomic weirdness from 2020-10-25T16:55:53

Quantum mechanics. Does the term alone make your brain hurt a little? If so, you’re not alone. It’s a very complex branch of physics where things are just kind of ... weird. However, it's this stra...

TCR: Printing the future of nuclear from 2020-08-12T09:18:17

Since 1943, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has built 13 nuclear reactors — now it's preparing for its 14th, the Transformational Challenge Reactor, or TCR. But this one will be quite a departure fro...

In the fight against COVID-19 from 2020-06-01T10:01:32

In just a few short months, COVID-19 has upended daily life around the globe. However, one thing that hasn't changed is the scientific community’s drive to find answers and solutions to big problem...

Chromosomes, conservation&chocolate: The life of Liane Russell from 2020-03-30T13:58:44

Learn about the remarkable life and legacy of the late Liane B. Russell, one of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's most renowned scientists. She was a pioneer in genetics, a passionate conservationist...

GIS: More than a map from 2020-02-24T12:33:30

Geographic information systems are powerful mapping tools that we use on a daily basis without realizing it. Apps for navigation and weather are just a few examples of GIS in our everyday lives. Bu...

Far out: Fueling the future of space exploration from 2019-12-31T14:59:04

Plutonium-238 is critical to deep space exploration. The special isotope has powered missions that have enabled us to explore the atmosphere of Saturn, see the heart of Pluto and traverse the surfa...

The human element: Expanding the periodic table from 2019-11-19T11:05:39

Inventing the future: AI for science from 2019-10-15T10:14:10

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a subject of science fiction. From personal assistants to self-driving cars, AI is revolutionizing everyday life.

While AI may be more prevalent...