



3 episodes
by Taylor Sparks and Andrew Falkowski · English
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.







100-year history and future of point defects in crystals, focusing on how tiny, hard-to-observe atomic imperfections control semiconductor and optical properties, and how modern theory/measurement…
5 Nov 2026 · 43m · 18 chapters
The history, production breakthroughs, properties, recycling, and alloy/temper designations of aluminum, explaining why it shifted from a precious metal to a ubiquitous engineering material.
28 Sep 2026 · 44m · 19 chapters
Thermal protection systems (TPS) for spacecraft reentry—how vehicles convert extreme kinetic energy into heat and how materials survive the resulting plasma, temperature gradients, and chemical…
7 Aug 2026 · 1h 1m · 30 chapters