What makes iron different from steel? How are they made? In this episode, we explore the history of iron and steel. It's heavy metal!

How do batteries work? What are the different types of batteries? Why has battery improvement been so slow? Join Lauren and Jonathan to learn more about the science behind batteries.

What does the word nanotechnology really mean? And how did it evolve? From ancient glassmaking to the tech of sci fi, we look at nanotechnology.

Packard Bell's lifespan was 1926 to 1968. Or maybe 1933 to 1974. Or maybe 1986 to 2000. What is up with this company? We investigate the Packard Bell Story.

How powerful is the 3D-printed gun designed by Cody Wilson? Why is the gun so controversial? Is a plastic gun really undetectable?

What exactly is a modem and what does it do? We trace the development of the modem and how it plays a key part in computer networks.

What are redox flow batteries? How are they similar to other types of energy storage technologies like traditional batteries and fuel cells? Will we ever see them in wide deployment?

What are fitness trackers? What sort of sensors does a typical tracker contain? Do fitness trackers really help you lose weight or get fit? Tune in to learn more.

What makes a trumpet sound different from a guitar? How do flutes work? In this episode, we look at how musical instruments actually create their respective, distinctive sounds.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of people into a new lifestyle and raised many challenges. Among those are how do we pursue learning from home? How can technology help us when we can't leave the house? Kristin Wisnewski and Grace Suh join the show to talk about initiatives designed to help students learn in our new remote reality.

Musical instruments are a particularly cool type of technology. How do musical instruments take advantage of fundamental laws of physics? We explore the nature of sound and music in this episode.

Nanotechnology is the science of building incredibly tiny machines. As manufacturing techniques improve, more nanotechnology may find its way to the market. 

The lead developer of the Android operating system launched a new phone company in 2015 called Essential Products. In 2019, that company folded. What happened?

The web conferencing service Zoom was already successful before the era of isolation really kicked it into a new gear. Learn about where it came from, how it works and the controversies the company now faces.

What do automotive transmissions do? How does power get from an engine to a car’s wheels? Why do manual transmission vehicles have a clutch? Learn more about transmissions with Jonathan and Lauren.

A Chinese company is marketing heat-sensing glasses as a possible way to screen people for COVID-19. How does thermal imaging work, and is this a good approach?

How is technology playing a role in the search for an effective treatment for COVID-19? Dave Turek of IBM joins the podcast to talk about how high performance computing can help speed up the process.

Where did the WhatsApp messaging service come from, how did it get so popular, and why did Facebook spend so much money to acquire it?

Why does the DMCA exist? What is safe harbor? What does the DMCA have to do with boats? Tune in to learn more with Jonathan and Lauren.