Materialism: A Materials Science Podcast

Skateboards have some cutting edge polymers, ceramics, metals, & composites. Wood vs carbon-fiber composite lay-ups? Silicon nitride vs steel ball bearings? Titanium vs magnesium light-weight metal a…

Few topics have captivated the imagination of scientists like superconductivity. In this episode, we cover the history of superconductors starting with the Gentleman of Zero Kelvin himself. We discus…

Every new startup requires capital, but most venture capital groups are very cautious about investing in materials companies due to the typically long timeframe for development. In this episode we ta…

Halloween is right around the corner and like many of you, we’ve been hard at work on our spooky costumes! If you’ve ever been to Comic-Con you’ve seen the incredible costumes that cosplay artists ca…

When you hear of massive wildfires you probably think of the usual suspects: lightning, a campfire carelessly left unattended, maybe a cigarette butt thrown from a vehicle? What you probably don't th…

Can art make you a better scientist? Can an understanding of materials science make you a better artist? We think so! So does Darryl Butt, dean of the College of Mines at the University of Utah. We i…

In our pursuit of materials design, who better to imitate than Mother Nature? Biomimetic, or bioinspired materials are making huge strides in materials design! In this episode, Andrew chats with Dr. …

Printing human organs? Replacing worn-out body parts with fresh, newly printed ones? This sounds like science fiction but in some ways, it's already here! From kidneys to bladders and even more compl…

We usually take modern rubber for granted, but in this episode, Jared and Andrew dive into the incredible history of this miracle material. They discuss the discovery of the vulcanization process by …

This episode covers a fascinating class of materials called auxetics. Experience tells us that when we pull a material in tension, it should shrink; auxetics do the opposite. By shifting, winding, or…

Materials Informatics is the application of data science tools and techniques to materials research. In this episode, we examine how the uses of machine learning are applied to materials science. We …

How do N95 masks work? In this episode we dive into the science of diffusion and the materials that are used to control it. With the lingering threat of airborne COVID-19 it might be a good idea to l…

Diamonds aren't forever. They are a metastable phase of carbon that is slowly reverting to graphite. But before that happens it has proven an invaluable tool in industry for cutting through metals an…

Making a polymer sample is one thing, but churning out large batches of consistent product brings a host of challenges. In this episode we interview Alex Reed, CEO of Fluence Analytics, a company spe…

Soap wasn't always a household item. In this episode we dive into the history of soap, who developed it, and the materials used to make it. Throughout its history, soap underwent several changes in a…

In this episode we dive into the science behind ultrasound characterization for flaw internal, non-destructive flaw detection. Piezoelectric materials generate electricity in response to an applied s…

What if materials could heal like we do? In this episode, we dive in to the science behind self-healing polymer materials, explore different approaches to polymers design, and peer into what the futu…

Have you ever watched a blacksmith work an old railroad tie into an elaborate metal trinket and wonder "How do they do that?" or "Why are doing it that way" or "What is the purpose of that step?" In …

About half of the solid wastes produced each year end up in a landfill. A quarter gets recycled, 10% is composted, and the rest is burned. Why isn't more being recycled? Is this trend going to change…

A great empire demands an equally great building material. In this episode, we cover the development and implementation of cement and concrete throughout human history. We are joined by Marie Jackson…