PODCAST · science
Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast
by Taylor Sparks and Andrew Falkowski
In this podcast, Taylor and Andrew investigate the past, present, and future of materials science and engineering. Topic areas ranging from cutting edge materials technology, the history of different materials, the commercialization of new materials, and exciting advances in processing and characterization are all covered in detail. Our episodes include things like the unlikely discovery of superglue or teflon, the fascinating backstories about modern biomaterials like dialysis filters, and updates on new technologies including wearable electronics, next generation batteries, and nanomaterials. In short, we hope to help listeners understand the critical role that materials have played in society and even glimpse into what the future may hold for new materials.
Episodes
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Episode 121: Aluminum
Aluminum may seem like a common metal today, but did you know it was once considered on par with silver? Taylor and Andrew sit down with Marat Latypov, a professor at the University of Arizona, to explore how aluminum went from a precious metal to one of the go-to metals of modern society. We…
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Episode 120: Thermal Protection Systems
We have all seen the heat of atmospheric reentry depicted a thousand times in movies and TV shows, but how do we actually protect spacecraft from that danger? Taylor and Andrew sit down with Nate Olson, an aerospace engineer at NASA's Johnson Space Center, to explore the history of thermal...
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Episode 119: Closing the Discovery Loop with Radical AI
What if a materials lab on Earth could screen a hundred alloys a day with little input from the scientist? Taylor and Andrew sit down with Joseph Krause, CEO and co-founder of Radical AI, to dig into what it takes to build a self-driving lab and why most of the field is still missing the hard…
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Episode 118: The Molecular Universe with SES AI
What if you could know which batteries are worth building before you actually build them? Taylor and Andrew sit down with Dr. Qichao Hu, founder of SES AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping battery discovery and his experience in the field. From his decision to ditch solid state...
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Episode 117: Textiles in Space
The fanciest suit isn't on the runway, it's in orbit. In this follow-up episode, Taylor and Andrew bring back Kate Winning from Oxford Space Systems to dive into the world of space textiles. From the knitted gold-plated mesh antennas that fold up for launch and deploy to the size of a room, to…
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Episode 116: Textile Materials
Textiles are all around us, they are literally woven into nearly every part of our daily lives. From the everyday materials in the clothes we wear to the specialty materials in parachutes, spacesuits, and even bulletproof armor. They play a bigger role than we often think about but what exactly…
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Episode 115: Phase Field Modeling
Many digital models use hard boundaries to simulate how materials change, but the real world is rarely that clean. Phase field modeling takes a more natural approach, capturing the gradual, messy transitions that actually occur. This makes it ideal for simulating things like crack growth or...
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Episode 114: Synchrotron XRD on Demand
Having access to advanced characterization tools sounds great but sadly they aren't easily attainable. Momentum Transfer seeks to remedy this by offering mail-in access to synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and scattering measurements. Taylor sits down with Dr. Maxwell Terban co-founder of...
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Episode 113: Metal Organic Frameworks
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to pioneers in the field of MOFs, but what exactly is a MOF? We sit down with Dr. Matthew J. Cliffe, an associate professor at the University of Cambridge, to discuss what makes metal–organic frameworks deserving of a Nobel Prize. Our conversation...
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Episode 112: Merging 3D Printing and SPS
3D printing and SPS(Spark Plasma Sintering) are two incredible techniques that are best suited for different purposes, but what if there was a way to combine them to open up a whole new world of possibilities. We sit down with Christopher Melnyk, Director of Business Development at CalNano to…
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Episode 111: The Science of Gemstones
There’s a lot more to gems than just sparkly rocks. While we can’t promise they’ll cleanse bad vibes, we can dive into the incredible science behind them. In this episode, Andrew and Taylor chat with Mubashir Mansoor, a gemologist and PhD candidate in Materials Science at Istanbul Technical...
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Episode 110: LionGlass
You may not think of glass production as a significant source of CO₂, but the stats may surprise you. Enter Penn State and their LionGlass, a phosphate-based glass that not only lowers the temperature needed for forming, but also avoids the CO₂ emissions that come from the carbonate materials…
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Episode 109: Operando Transmission Electron Microscopy
Seeing atomic scale interactions in real time may sound like science fiction, but operando TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) has made it science fact. Unlike traditional TEM, which looks at static samples, operando TEM enables scientists to watch materials evolve dynamically while they…
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Episode 108: The History of Food Packaging
We are surrounded by processed and packaged food, but how did we get here? Inspired by "The Material Advantage " by Bernie Bulkin, Taylor and Andrew explore the topic of food packaging. From prizes offered by Napoleon to patent theft, the history of food packaging is an interesting one. Thanks to...
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Episode 107: Glass Science with Schott
Glass is all around us but you may not spend much time thinking about it's history and advancements. In this episode we sit down with Colin Schmucker and Dr. Sebastian Leukel from SCHOTT AG to discuss this common but fascinating material. From naturally occurring glass formed by lightning to...
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Episode 106: Photoluminescent Materials
From glowing plastic stars on bedroom ceilings to quirky novelty items, most of us have encountered the magic of things that shine in the dark but what’s really behind the glow? Andrew and Taylor dive into the science of photoluminescence, breaking down the physics of how it works and the…
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Episode 105: Cooling Paints
Just because the temperature is rising doesn’t mean your electric bill has to. Introducing cooling paints: Jared and Andrew discuss how painting your house with specialized coatings can noticeably reduce the temperature. We dive into the physics behind these paints and the materials that make…
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Episode 104: The Winding Path to Materials Discovery
Few things in materials science are more interesting and rewarding than discovering new materials. In this episode, Taylor and Andrew sit down with Paul Canfield, a physicist from Ames Laboratory to discuss materials discovery—and the creative ways he writes about it. From cooking metaphors to...
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Episode 103: MatterGen
What if you could find materials with tailored properties without ever entering the lab? We sit down with Tian Xie from Microsoft to discuss their new AI tool MatterGen. We learn all about what the tool does and the tests they put it through to validate the output. We also discuss the new Azure…
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Episode 102: Integrating Materials and Manufacturing Innovation
Have you ever read a published paper and wished you had access to the raw data? The journal Integrating Materials and Manufacturing Innovation (IMMI) seeks to solve that issue. Taylor, the current Editor-in-Chief, sits down with Chuck Ward( Previously Chief of Manufacturing and Industrial...
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Episode 101: All About Biomatter
How do we turn plants into plastics and polymers? Find out in this episode as Taylor leaves Utah and ventures to Washington to sit down with Eleftheria Roumeli, an assistant professor at the University of Washington and researcher in the field of biomatter. Learn all about how a fish tank full of...
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Episode 100: Materials for Bikes
From antelope skin chains to full beryllium frames its safe to say bikes and the materials that make them have a fascinating history. Join us as we celebrate episode 100 and dive into the materials science behind this beloved mode of transportation. Starting at the invention of the first bike due...
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Episode 99: Bulk Metallic Glasses
How does a metal become a glass? By cooling on the order of 10^6 K/s. We sit down with Jan Schroers, a professor of engineering at Yale to discuss the exciting world of bulk metallic glasses. With over 20 million different combinations these materials are incredibly versatile and have strength...
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Episode 98: Accelerating Catalyst Research with Meta
What brings a social media company into materials science? In this episode, we talk with Larry Zitnick of Meta's Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) and Aaike van Vught from VSParticle about building OCx24, an open catalysis materials database. We discuss the challenges of creating an experimental...
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Episode 97: Titanium
What do a Mach-3 aircraft and a hip replacement have in common? They are both made of titanium. In this episode we dive into this incredible material from its name rooted in Greek mythology to the unique variants of commercial titanium. Learn about the interesting challenges facing titanium's use...
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Episode 96: Spark Ablation with VSParticle
At temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun (>20,000K), a revolutionary physics-based process is creating the future of nanomaterials - no chemicals required. We talk to Aaike van Vugt co-founder of VSParticle and an expert in the field of spark ablation. He walks us through the process of...
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Episode 95: You Don't Know Anything About Steel
You probably think you know a lot about steel, you couldn’t be more wrong. In this episode we sit down with Caelan Kennedy from the Steel Founders’ Society of America to discuss the intricacies of steel. From tuning properties by using different elements in the alloy to the confusing naming...
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Episode 94: An Introduction to Quantum Materials
Quantum isn't just a buzzword used in the movies. In this episode we are joined by Jason Khoury, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University, he helps explain the key concepts necessary to understand the basics of quantum materials. We discuss the origin of quantum behavior including...
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Episode 93: An Introduction to Pyrometallurgy
Pyrometallurgy is one of the oldest branches of materials science, yet it is constantly evolving. Join us as we take a broad look at the process of transforming ore into the metals we use every day. From ancient techniques for checking counterfeit coins to cutting-edge innovations like battery...
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Episode 92: The Quest for Pure Uranium
In this episode, we explore the story of Harley Wilhelm, an unsung hero of the Manhattan Project. Discover how the Ames Process revolutionized the production of pure uranium metal, turning a slow and inefficient task into an streamlined operation that played a critical role in ending World War…
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Episode 91: High Entropy Alloys
A new class of material doesn't show up often. In this episode, we dive into the revolutionary discovery of high entropy alloys (HEAs) that revitalized the field of metallurgy. We dive into their simultaneous discovery at both Oxford and Tsinghua National University. Learn how they break all the...
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Episode 90: The Big Dig Incident
Choosing the wrong material can have dire consequences. In this episode of our failure series, we discuss how the incorrect choice of epoxy led to a catastrophic failure and a tragic death. Discover the series of poor decisions that turned a new highway plan into one of the costliest public works...
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Episode 89: Special Applications of Microscopy Technologies
Electron microscopy is almost a century old, but it continues to play a role in exciting new developments that extend its use well beyond its original purpose. We sit down with Professor Sergei Kalinin from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to discuss these exciting new applications of this...
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Episode 88: Accelerating Materials Discovery with Microsoft
The discovery of new materials is an immense challenge, with a vast design space and numerous success criteria. Microsoft has recently demonstrated an advanced approach to machine learning-assisted material discovery, particularly in the realm of lithium-ion battery electrolytes. They began by...
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Episode 87: Stories of a Materials Salesman
Designing a great material is only half the battle, now you need to sell it. In this episode we sat down with Dan Wilson from Sintx and took a dive into the surprisingly nuanced world of materials sales and the challenges and pitfalls of marketing materials solutions. Learn more about Sintx and…
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Episode 86: PHAs and Biodegradable Plastic
The challenge of plastic pollution in our environment will be a defining issue in the coming decades. To address this problem, scientists have developed a host of next generation biodegradable plastics that have the potential to improve the sustainability of single use products. Among these are a...
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Episode 85: Electron Backscatter Diffraction
There’s more to a material’s microstructure than meets the eye! In this episode of the Materialism Podcast we dive into the world of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) characterization, and discuss some of the important properties you can measure with it including grain size, phase...
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Episode 84: The ICME Method with QuesTek
Meeting the demands of next-generation technologies will require materials to be designed and qualified at faster rates than ever before. The ICME (integrated computational materials engineering) approach is at the forefront of this innovation, blending advanced computational modeling with...
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Episode 83: Computed Tomography at Zeiss
Examining the inside of a material is often a destructive process that risks obscuring or deforming critical details. However, advances in computed tomography have opened new opportunities to obtain high resolution, three-dimensional reconstructions of materials in a non-destructive manner.…
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Episode 82: Radar Absorbing Materials
The ability to avoid detection is one of the most useful tricks of modern day combat aviation. In this episode we dive into some of the history of various stealth endeavors ranging from painting ships with fun stripes to creating radioactive fuel additives. All culminating in a discussion of the...
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Episode 81: New Materials for Carbon Capture
Taylor sits down with Dr. Hayden Evans of NIST and Sir Dr. Anthony Cheetham of UCSB/Cambridge/National University of Singapore to talk about their research on carbon storing materials. Learn what special characteristics makes the materials they are researching well suited for CO2 capture.…
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Episode 80: Ceramic Innovation with Delta Faucet
Join us as we speak to Delta Faucet about a new way of ceramics processing. Learn how the process works and why they aren't pursuing it further at the moment. This episode is sponsored by Delta Faucet, learn more about their work and services by visiting their website. This episode is sponsored…
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Episode 79: Cryogenic Milling at Cal Nano
Cryogenic Milling, the name may be self explanatory but the process is not. We sit down with Eric Eyerman CEO of at Cal Nano to talk about what Cryogenic Milling is, how Cal Nano has used it in the past, and the benefits it offers to engineers. This episode is sponsored by calnano, learn more…
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Episode 78: Flash Sintering at Lucideon
Delve into the new (ish) exciting world of flash sintering and learn how it compares to Spark Plasma Sintering. Also get ready for a little history lesson on ceramic production in the UK. This episode is sponsored by Lucideon, learn more about their work and job opportunities by visiting their...
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Episode 77: Circular Construction Economy
The way in which we are using resources to produce materials is putting unsustainable strain on the ecosystem. The circular economy has the potential to make better use of resources, which is particularly important in the construction industry where demand for materials continues to increase. In...
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Episode 76: Industrial Symbiosis
There must be closer collaboration between industries and more efficient use of resources to achieve more sustainable industry for the future. Industrial symbiosis brings organisations together to find ways to use the waste from one as raw materials for another. In this episode, learn about the...
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Episode 75: Large Language Models in Materials Science
Every aspect of our life has recently been flooded with new AI driven tools as ChatGPT continues to spread. The question is can Materials Science benefit from these AIs? Is there a future with this or is this just a flash in the pan fad? Do we need to go the way of Dune and destroy all computers?...
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Episode 74: Digital Tools for MSE
There are many benefits for the adoption of digital tools, including machine learning, in materials production and development. However, widespread use remains low in part due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of its applications. What is the state-of-the-art and how could the deployment…
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Episode 73: Bio-Inspired Concrete
Concrete is an essential material in modern society. It is the second most used material after water and it’s demand continues to increase. However, at least 8% of global emissions caused by humans come from the cement industry. Therefore, reducing the environmental impact of cement and concrete...
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Episode 72: Importance of Cross-Sector Collaboration
The UK foundation industries (chemicals, ceramics, glass, paper, cement and metals) face common challenges to ensure they benefit in the transformation to a more sustainable future. Cross-sector collaboration is essential to share best practice and optimize use of energy and resources. The…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
In this podcast, Taylor and Andrew investigate the past, present, and future of materials science and engineering. Topic areas ranging from cutting edge materials technology, the history of different materials, the commercialization of new materials, and exciting advances in processing and characterization are all covered in detail. Our episodes include things like the unlikely discovery of superglue or teflon, the fascinating backstories about modern biomaterials like dialysis filters, and updates on new technologies including wearable electronics, next generation batteries, and nanomaterials. In short, we hope to help listeners understand the critical role that materials have played in society and even glimpse into what the future may hold for new materials.
HOSTED BY
Taylor Sparks and Andrew Falkowski
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast have?
Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast currently has 123 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast about?
In this podcast, Taylor and Andrew investigate the past, present, and future of materials science and engineering. Topic areas ranging from cutting edge materials technology, the history of different materials, the commercialization of new materials, and exciting advances in processing and...
How often does Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast release new episodes?
Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast publishes regularly with 123 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast?
You can listen to Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast?
Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast is created and hosted by Taylor Sparks and Andrew Falkowski.
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