The Air-Conditioned Century
from David's Gemini Notebook Podcast Collection Hosted by David Weissman
How did humanity learn to manufacture cool air, and how did that change the course of American life? In this Deep Dive, we trace the fascinating history of air conditioning from early refrigeration experiments and John Gorrie’s medical ice machine to Willis Carrier’s breakthrough in humidity control and the rise of modern HVAC. Along the way, we unpack the thermodynamics of cooling, the science of heat transfer and dehumidification, and the surprising ways air conditioning transformed architecture, industry, summer moviegoing, suburban growth, and the political power of the American Sun Belt. It is a story of engineering, comfort, climate, and how one invisible technology helped redraw the map of the United States.
Embed this episode
No transcript yet.