Podcasts about Materials science

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 University, to uncover the rich past of gemstones and how they are shaping the future. From restoring a man's sight to a possible future in quantum computing, these crystals hold more secrets than you'd think. We trace the evolution of gem technology, from bamboo rods and coal to high-tech scanners that can spot microscopic flaws and reveal exactly where a gem was mined. Most importantly we discuss how gemologists are looking for help from materials scientists and engineers to help crack the secrets of these sparkly rocks. Diamonds are Forever: The Evolution of the Bionic Eye [LINK] This episode is sponsored by the American Ceramics Society Learning Center. Visit ceramics.org/materialism to learn more or use code MATERIALISM to get $100 off your next On-Demand course registration. This Materialism Podcast is sponsored by Materials Today, an Elsevier community dedicated to the creation and sharing of materials science knowledge and experience through their peer-reviewed journals, academic conferences, educational webinars, and more. Thanks to Kolobyte and Alphabot for letting us use their music in the show! If you have questions or feedback please send us emails at materialism.podcast@gmail.com or connect with us on social media: Instagram, Twitter. Materialism Team: Taylor Sparks, Andrew Falkowski, & Jared Duffy.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Bharat Gwalani from North Carolina State University and Mert Efe from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory about their single-step, energy-efficient method for making a samarium cobalt magnet. Using a process they call “friction stir consolidation,” the researchers apply heat and pressure simultaneously to fuse the two powders together. Their method results in low porosity to make a magnetically stronger, higher quality material than that made by using the conventional method. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Communications.

The Ten Across Resilience Network convened in Jacksonville, Florida, in April to share strategies from their communities—the hottest in the nation—for mitigating the mortality and economic loss caused by extreme heat, and to identify common obstacles to both long-term planning and immediate response. Representatives from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) joined the exercise to discuss and document the findings.  With co-author Dr. Melissa Guardaro, Senior Global Futures Scientist for ASU's Global Futures Lab, FAS's Grace Wickerson has drafted a set of policy recommendations for all levels of government and non-governmental actors, “Framework for a Heat-Ready Nation.” This document draws heavily upon the recommendations, challenges and successes raised by Ten Across participants and outlines a series of steps that can be taken to protect people and their livelihoods from rising temperatures nationwide.  In this episode, Grace walks us through the five high-priority measures defined in the report;  how these points were determined and what it will take to see them carried out. A scientist recognized for their policy advocacy work by last month's 2025 Grist 50 list, Grace discusses the importance of decisions based on sound science, and how to move forward even as most federal climate policy is rolled back.   Relevant Articles and Resources  Framework for a Heat-Ready Nation (Ten Across/Federation of American Scientists, July 2025)  2025 Heat Policy Agenda (Federation of American Scientists, January 2025)  “As summer ends, Maricopa County is on track to see fewer heat-related deaths than last year” (KJZZ, September 2025)  “Ten Across Joins 60+ Organizations in Supporting Federal Policy Agenda for Tackling Extreme Heat” (Ten Across blog, January 2025)  “Here's why an Arizona medical examiner is working to track heat-related deaths” (NPR, June 2024)  Relevant Ten Across Conversations Podcasts  ASU Researchers Tackle Extreme Heat Relief as Phoenix Temps Soar  Urban Planners: The Unexpected Champions of the U.S. Heat Resilience Effort  What Some of the Hottest Cities on The 10 Are Doing to Address Deadly Heat  CreditsHost: Duke ReiterProducer and editor: Taylor GriffithMusic by: Dew of Light and Lennon HuttonResearch and support provided by: Kate Carefoot, Rae Ulrich, and Sabine Butler  About our guest  Grace Wickerson is senior manager of Climate and Health on the Climate and Environment team at the Federation of American Scientists. Grace leads programmatic work to showcase how a changing climate impacts health outcomes and public health and healthcare systems through emerging threats like extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Grace holds a master's of science in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University and was named to this year's Grist 50 list of climate and justice advocates to watch.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Yaroslava Yingling and Joseph Tracy from North Carolina State University about their study on iron oxide colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) coated in oleylamine ligands. By combining experimental work with molecular simulations, their research group determined how to optimize ethanol solvent-mediated ligand stripping in order to control the functionality of the NPs. This work was published in a recent issue of Advanced Materials Interfaces.

"We understand each other, and we are saying we share the same humanity." In this episode, Drew sits down just outside Shanghai with Rao Rao,  Hoffman China teacher trainee, co-founder and CEO of the Hoffman China Center, and seasoned business leader. In June of 2024, life pushed Rao Rao in the direction of Hoffman. She'd been doing healing work after a series of events that caused her to turn inward. Already immersed in the world of Vipassana meditation when she came to the Process, she was determined to end her suffering and felt that would happen if she could get to the ego-less state. But at her Process, her teacher told her she needed to be messier. That she needed to let herself grow, to speak up for herself, to do what she wants rather than what she thinks she should do. This was the beginning of her big internal transformation. Listen in to hear the beautiful, embodied stories of this transformational shift, including a moment with a hawk while seated on Guardian Rock at the Petaluma retreat site. This is exciting news about the establishment of the first Hoffman Process center in China. Rao Rao describes why there is a great need for Hoffman in China at this time. She shares that we are all the same in our capacity to feel and be present in our hearts. More about Rao Rao: Rao Rao holds an M.Sc. in Management Research from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She also holds master's and bachelor's degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University. She is the co-founder and CEO of the Hoffman China Center and a Hoffman teacher trainee. She is a seasoned business leader with nearly two decades of experience in consulting, marketing, strategy, and operations across industries such as consumer goods, TMT, and internet ventures. Driven by her passion for human consciousness and organizational transformation, she transitioned from corporate leadership in 2022 to pursue this mission. Since April 2024, she has served as a consultant for Evolve Foundation Fund and has spearheaded the launch of the Hoffman Process in China. Rao Rao resides in Shanghai with her husband, Yuekui, their two daughters, Yaoyao and Nannan, and their golden hamster, Xiaobai. Listen on Apple Podcasts As mentioned in this episode: About Bo Shao: Bo Shao is a successful serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist. In 2018, he stepped away from all commercial activities to devote himself entirely to philanthropy. Bo invested his own money to start the Evolve Foundation. Evolve aims to increase the happiness of the entire society and raise the consciousness level of humanity. Hoffman teachers: Raz Ingrasci - Listen to Raz on the Hoffman Podcast: Husband, Father, Son Volker Krohn - Listen to Volker on the Hoffman Podcast: Re-Initiated Into the Family of Humanity Caroline Guan - General Manager for Evolve Institute in China More on the research done on the Hoffman Process Vipassana meditation and retreat Ego death "The way out is through." (From the Hoffman Process Integration Manual) Guardian Rock, photo by Drew Horning Guardian Rock Hoffman Process Retreat Center, Petaluma, California Guardian Rock can be accessed by following a hiking trail up one of the hills on the site. It overlooks a stunning valley. Petaluma's name originates from the Miwok village of Péta Lúuma, located on the banks of the Petaluma River. read more... Eagles in Petaluma, California - Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles.    

Many ecosystems fall short of their full potential because they're designed around Earth's limitations. The revelation? Gravity isn't just a physical force—it's an economic barrier costing America trillions in unrealized breakthroughs across semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and defensetechnologies.While ecosystem architects optimize terrestrial manufacturing, they overlook a fundamental constraint: Earth's gravity creates atomic-level defects that make perfect materials impossible. Lynn Harper (NASA InSPA) and Dr. Dan Rasky (SpaceX Dragon heat shield inventor) reveal the mathematical reality: microgravity manufacturing achieves 90% yields where Earth struggles to reach 5%—a 1,800% performance gap that redefines competitive advantage.Paradigm Shifts:→ The Seed Crystal Revolution: Space doesn't replace Earth manufacturing—it creates "perfect" molecular templates that unlock Earth's potential. One space-grown crystal can seed millions of perfect Earth products.→ The $2 Trillion Gravity Tax: Every semiconductor, pharmaceutical crystal, and advanced material manufactured on Earth carries atomic-level defects. Space manufacturing eliminates this fundamental limitation.→ From Quantum to Human Impact: First mathematical proof that microgravity improves material organization at every scale—from atomic structures to human tissue engineering.→ The 10X Cost Paradox: Metric-based space contracting delivers 10X cost savings vs traditional aerospace development—making space manufacturing economically inevitable.Ecosystem Impact:→ United Semiconductor: 5% Earth yield → 90% space yield in identical conditions → Merck Keytruda: First uniform cancer drug crystals achieved in microgravity → 7.4 miles of commercial ZBLAN optical fiber: Breaking all world records for performance → 80% of 500+ space-manufactured crystals outperform Earth equivalentsThe Innovation: NASA's InSPA program demonstrates systematic superiority across materials science, proving microgravity manufacturing isn't experimental—it's the next industrial revolution. Combined with SpaceX's reusable transportation breakthrough, space manufacturing transitions from science fiction to economic reality.Strategic Application: Any ecosystem dependent on advanced materials—from quantum computing to personalized medicine—can achieve unprecedented performance by incorporating space-manufactured components or seed crystals into terrestrial production.Strategic Reframe: The most competitive ecosystems will shift from asking "How do we optimize Earth manufacturing?" to understanding: "Which materials require space perfection to unlock their full potential—and how do we architect hybrid space-Earth production systems?"The question isn't whether this transforms manufacturing. The question is: Will America lead this ecosystem transformation, or watch others capture the trillion-dollar opportunity?#EcosystemicFutures #SpaceManufacturing #Microgravity #NASA #MaterialsScience #SpaceEconomy #InnovationGuests: Lynn Harper,Strategic Integration Advisor, ISS National Laboratory | Co-founder, NASA InSPA PortfolioDr. Dan Rasky, Senior Scientist, NASA Ames | SpaceX Dragon Heat Shield Inventor | Co-founder, NASA Space PortalHosts: Marco Annunziata, Co-founder, Annunziata Desai AdvisorsDyan Finkhousen, Founder & CEO, Shoshin WorksSeries Hosts:Vikram Shyam, Lead Futurist, NASA Glenn Research CenterDyan Finkhousen, Founder & CEO, Shoshin WorksEcosystemic Futures is provided by NASA Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Project in collaboration with Shoshin Works.

Asheesh is a mechanical engineer with over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and entrepreneurship. He's an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Director of Research at the Composites Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), at the University of Southern Maine. He teaches materials science and math-based courses at USM, where he also gets to shoot stuff with lasers, break stuff apart, and put things together. Asheesh  was one of the 5 Minute Genius™ speakers at this past year's Maine Science Festival; you can see his talk on our YouTube channel.This conversation was recorded in June 2025.   ~~~~~The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle. The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker. To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate. Find us online:Maine Discovery MuseumMaine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky Maine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedInMaine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Instagram © 2025 Maine Discovery Museum

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Thomas White from the University of Nevada, Reno, about his research group's work on superheating gold. By hitting the gold foil with 45 femtosecond blue laser pulses, the team heated the foil uniformly up to 14 times hotter than its melting point while maintaining the material's crystal structure. To confirm the temperature, the group introduced a thermometry technique that derives the temperature based on the velocity of the atoms in the sample. By studying these forms of matter up close in the laboratory, White seeks to better understand what goes on inside planets, stars, and even extreme human-engineered environments, such as nuclear fusion reactors. Furthermore, these experimental results could open new theoretical investigations into superheating. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature.

https://youtu.be/eUVGEhhU5jMMatt and Sean talk about taking an unexpected environmental blight (Sargassum), and turning it into a renewable, useful (and profitable) resource.Watch the Undecided with Matt Ferrell episode, This Seaweed Was a Caribbean Disaster, Now It's Gold https://youtu.be/iAYiUN4gvi4?list=PLnTSM-ORSgi7uzySCXq8VXhodHB5B5OiQ(00:00) - - Intro (02:11) - - Previous Episode Feedback (10:31) - - Sargassum Discussion YouTube version of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/stilltbdpodcastGet in touch: https://undecidedmf.com/podcast-feedbackSupport the show: https://pod.fan/still-to-be-determinedFollow us on X: @stilltbdfm @byseanferrell @mattferrell or @undecidedmfUndecided with Matt Ferrell: https://www.youtube.com/undecidedmf ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, I talked to Dr. Samuel Stupp, Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science, Chemistry, and Medicine at Northwestern University. He is one of the pioneers of supramolecular self-assembling materials and is a cofounder of multiple biotech startups, like Amphix Bio, that is working on regenerating spinal cords and tissues using biomaterials. ---------------------------------------------------------------Thanks to the sponsors:Audible: Use my link for a 30-day free trial: http://audibletrial.com/diamondgoatNewsly: https://newsly.mepromo code to receive a 1-month free premium subscription: EARLYMORNING Libysn: https://libsyn.compromo code: DG Dubby Energy: https://www.dubby.ggpromo code for 10% off: DIAMONDGOATOpus Clips:  https://www.opus.pro/?via=diamondgoat----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Listen on:Podcast website: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dg-early-morning-show--5943922Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0EuhA6WyuerHtVAqcFrFeOPodcast YT channel clips: https://www.youtube.com/@dgearlymorningshowTiktok: @dgearlymorningshowApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dg-early-morning-show/id1575451533Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f050b86c-1dad-4bc3-b12f-6aa5fa62438c  Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/dg-early-morning-show-211830RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/dg-earlymorning-show-WoML4rBreaker: https://www.breaker.audio/dg-early-morning-showReason: https://reason.fm/podcast/dg-earlymorning-show--------------------------------------Check out my other stuff:Instagram: @itzdiamondgoatTwitter: @lildiamondgoatMain YT channel: youtube.com/diamondgoatTiktok: @lildiamondgoatSoundcloud: @Lil DiamondgoatSpotify: @Lil DiamondgoatMerch store: https://diamondgoat.creator-spring.com

This episode explores the critical challenges of safeguarding spacecraft from micrometeoroids and orbital debris. Join host Mark Daniels along with Adam Sells and Dr. Aphrodite Tomou as they delve into current materials like aluminium alloys and composites, discuss essential characterisation techniques, and look to the future with innovations such as self-healing composites. This episode highlights the vital role of materials science, design, and international cooperation in ensuring the sustainability and longevity of space infrastructure.More information: Hosts: Mark Daniels, Dr Aphrodite Tomou and Adam Sells. Goodfellow Cambridge Ltd: www.goodfellow.com Ask the panel a question: marketing@goodfellow.com

In this episode, Dr. Jill and Lyme expert Nicole Bell delve into the intricate world of tick-borne illnesses and their impact on neurological conditions. Our guest shares personal experiences and insights into the challenges of diagnosis and treatment, highlighting the importance of understanding root causes and the role of pathogens. Related Product: https://www.drjillhealth.com/products/dr-jill-health%C2%AE-tick-bite-prevention-protocol-1 Dr. Jill Health® - Tick Bite Prevention Protocol

(4:15) - Seashells Inspire a Better Way to Recycle PlasticThis episode was brought to you by Mouser, our favorite place to get electronics parts for any project, whether it be a hobby at home or a prototype for work. Click HERE to learn more about the future of electronics recycling using robotics & AI. Become a founding reader of our newsletter: http://read.thenextbyte.com/ As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Sathvik Iyengar, a PhD candidate at Rice University, about the development of a hybrid material called “glaphene.” A hybrid of graphene and two-dimensional (2D) silica glass, glaphene is a semiconductor with a bandgap of ~4 eV. More importantly, Iyengar and colleagues introduce a new method of bandgap engineering using hybrid materials instead of doping, which opens new possibilities for producing electronic components. This work was published in a recent issue of Advanced Materials. 

Robert Masse is the founder of Astrolabe Analytics, a battery software startup improving safety and extending the lifespan of battery-powered fleets. Backed by grants and contracts from the U.S. Air Force and National Science Foundation, Astrolabe's work bridges cutting-edge research with real-world applications. Robert launched Astrolabe while earning his PhD in Materials Science at the University of Washington. With over 15 years of experience researching materials for batteries and catalysts at UW, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and University of Wisconsin–Madison, Robert brings rare technical depth to the fast-evolving battery industry.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Victor Lopez-Richard from Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil about his memory device called a mem-emitter. Unlike a memresistor (short for “memory resistor”), which made of materials whose electrical resistance can be tuned, the mem-emitter is used to tune optical properties. Experimentally, Lopez-Richard's research group made the device out of molybdenum diselenide, which is a transition metal dichalcogenide, that was then layered onto a dielectric known as a clinochlore. The researchers found that they were able to tune the intensity of the light emitted according to theoretical predictions. This work was published in a recent issue of Nano Letters.

Living in Canada, a lot of us might consider ourselves experts on all things ice and snow. But new research out of the University of Saskatchewan reveals a material that can form tiny "cages" of ice that trap liquids and gases, which can lead to explosions in pipelines. Dr. John Tse, Canada Research Chair of Materials Science and a professor in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan, joins Tamara Cherry to chat about what this research means for the future of pipeline safety.

This episode revolves around two big questions: How can we scale up renewables? And how does Stanford approach the energy transition?About the Luminary:William Chueh is the Director of Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, of Energy Science and Engineering, and Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy. His research focuses on energy storage, particularly materials for energy transformation, including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers.About the host: Gita is an Indonesian entrepreneur and educator. He is the founding partner of Ikhlas Capital and the chairman of Ancora Group. Currently, he is teaching at Stanford as a visiting scholar with Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy; and a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.------------------------ Berminat menjadi pemimpin visioner berikutnya? Hubungi SGPP Indonesia di:⁠https://admissions.sgpp.ac.id⁠⁠https://wa.me/628111522504⁠Playlist episode "Endgame" lainnya:⁠Technology vs Humanity⁠⁠The Take⁠⁠Wandering Scientists⁠Kunjungi dan subscribe:⁠SGPP Indonesia⁠⁠Visinema Pictures

https://youtu.be/GwGnCQE98s0Matt and Sean talk about using digestive waste (yes, it's what you think it is) to increase sustainability. Yes, poo can be used to make better batteries.Watch the Undecided with Matt Ferrell episode, Why Manure and Urine Could Power the Future https://youtu.be/6TCmjSIj9Jw?list=PLnTSM-ORSgi7uzySCXq8VXhodHB5B5OiQ(00:00) - - Intro & Feedback (07:22) - - Waste Product Discussion YouTube version of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/stilltbdpodcastGet in touch: https://undecidedmf.com/podcast-feedbackSupport the show: https://pod.fan/still-to-be-determinedFollow us on X: @stilltbdfm @byseanferrell @mattferrell or @undecidedmfUndecided with Matt Ferrell: https://www.youtube.com/undecidedmf ★ Support this podcast ★

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Ashley Bucsek from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor about her laboratory-scale three-dimensional (3D) x-ray diffraction (XRD) microscope to replace studies done in synchrotron facilities. A key element of the design is the material used to make the x-rays. Instead of using a solid metal as a target, Bucsek's research group used a liquid metal source to generate the x-rays, thereby circumventing melting. Among the advantages of miniaturizing the microscope are its immediate availability and the possibility of conducting long-term studies. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Communications.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Daniel Garcia-Gonzalez from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain about his research group's reprogrammable metamaterial. The researchers use a soft polymer, mixed with magnetic particles. By rotating the orientation of the magnets, they tune the softness or compressibility of the material. This work was published in a recent issue of Advanced Materials. 

Sminston With is an anonymous engineer with a PhD in Materials Science and Bitcoiner since 2021. He believes Bitcoin represents a quantum leap in money technology and has analyzed its long-term adoption patterns to create a retirement guide based on his calculations.› Smitty's Bitcoin Retirement Guide: https://x.com/sminston_with/status/1917605539279954391PARTNERS

To enable future lunar settlements, researchers are pursuing ways to construct needed devices on the moon to save the expense of shipping them from Earth. In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Felix Lang from the University of Potsdam, Germany about his group's development of perovskite solar cells that utilize the moon's regolith for the substrate. The researchers achieved power conversion efficiency of ~10%, with some device architectures leading to improved efficiencies of ~12%. Calculations show that using resources from the moon resulted in a power-to-weight ratio that outclassed other technologies, even with the low efficiency. Future work will look to improve this efficiency by considering tandem solar cells. This study was published in a recent issue of Device.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Hang Zhang from Aalto University in Finland about his group's creation of a composite material that is both stiff and self-healing. The composite involves a hydrogel where the long polymer chains are confined between nanosheets of synthetic hectorite. This material mimics skin that is both stiff and self-healing. Applications may be forthcoming in self-healing soft robots or artificial tissues that can self-heal like synthetic skin. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Materials. 

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Sheng Xu from Tohoku University, Japan about his lightweight shape memory alloy that retains superelasticity at temperatures as cold as 4 K and as hot as 400°C. This range is about 5 times wider than commercial shape memory alloys. Shape memory alloys are needed for extreme environments such as part of machines in space or deep sea. Xu also sees uses for biomedical applications or for storage containers for liquid fuels like liquid hydrogen, which must be kept at very cold temperatures. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Lane Martin from Rice University about characterization of relaxor ferroelectrics, materials with noteworthy energy-conversion properties used in sensors and actuators. Martin's research team investigated the material's behavior at the nanoscale. The researchers found that the specific thin film they studied—the alloy lead magnesium niobate lead titanate—exhibited excellent properties down to 25–30 nm thick before they would start to shift. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

Today's guest is Daniel Ferrante, AI Leader in R&D and Data Strategy at Deloitte. Daniel joins Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella on today's show to delve into the intersection of AI, data strategy, and research and development across industries such as agriculture, life sciences, and materials science. Ferrante breaks down the core challenges organizations face in harnessing data to unlock AI's potential and drive efficiencies in R&D processes. Ferrante also emphasizes the importance of contextualizing data through a multimodal framework — Deloitte's Atlas — to bridge gaps between disparate datasets and ontologies. He outlines how AI models, including large language models (LLMs), can be leveraged to label and map complex data landscapes. This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business' podcast!

Jonathan Godwin is co-founder and CEO of Orbital Materials, an AI-first materials-engineering start-up. The company open-sourced Orb, a state-of-the-art simulation model, and now designs bespoke porous materials—its first aimed at cooling data-centres while capturing CO₂ or water. Jonathan shares how his DeepMind background shaped Orbital's “design-before-experiment” approach, why the team chose data-center sustainability as a beachhead market, and what it takes to build a vertically integrated, AI-native industrial company. The conversation explores the future of faster, cheaper R&D, the role of advanced materials in decarbonization, and the leap from software to physical products.In this episode, we cover: [02:12] Johnny's path from DeepMind to materials start-up[04:02] Trial-and-error vs AI-driven design shift[06:40] University/industry dynamics in materials R&D[10:17] Generative agent plus simulation for rapid discovery[13:01] Mitigating hallucinations with virtual experiments[18:18] Choosing a “hero” product and vertical integration[25:43] Dual-use chiller for cooling and CO₂ or water capture[32:26] Partnering on manufacturing to stay asset-light[35:58] Building an AI-native industrial giant of the future[36:51]: Orbital's investorsEpisode recorded on April 30, 2025 (Published on May 27, 2025) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Beth Dickey from Carnegie Mellon University about her new approach to inducing ferroelectricity into a material. Dickey's research group worked with a class of materials known as wurtzites. The researchers specifically studied aluminum nitride and zinc oxide, which are not ferroelectric in their pristine form at room temperature. However, alloys of these materials are ferroelectric. When the researchers stacked the ferroelectric alloy with a non-ferroelectric wurtzite and applied electric fields to the material, they found that the crystal lattice of the ferroelectric layer began to invert, then switching propagated into the pristine wurtzite, confirming that the entire material was ferroelectric. The results of this study could lead to development of ferroelectric materials for computers where memory and computation can be brought together into a single device, saving energy. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature. 

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Harry Atwater from the California Institute of Technology about his study on lightsail propulsion in order to understand how the device can be developed to do fly-by space travel riding a beam of laser light. Atwater's research group made a square prototype device where the researchers incorporated springs at each corner, etched out of a single sheet of silicon nitride, fastening it to the support frame. They tested its behavior in a two-beam interferometry experiment. Their comprehensive analysis provides a thorough understanding of key parameters that are essential for lightsail propulsion and paves the way for the next step of research: untethered flight. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Photonics.  

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Ashwin Shahini and Alan Taub from the University of Michigan about their group's simulations and experimental work detailing the formation mechanisms, morphologies, and microstructures of an in situ Al/TiC metal matrix nanocomposites processed via salt flux reaction. Using these insights, the microstructure of a material can be tuned in order to optimize the materials properties. While the three-dimensional imaging is critical to gaining insight into the structure, computational models can facilitate this optimization. This work was published in a recent issue of Acta Materialia. 

What if the breakthrough isn't about fixing your speech but letting go of the pressure to hide it? As a kid, Dennis did everything he could to try and keep everything under control, especially his stutter. Now a PhD engineer and public speaker, he opens up about the real work behind his personal and professional growth: learning to meet himself where he is and speak from a place of presence. In this warm, story-rich episode, Dennis and I explore what personal growth through self-expression really looks like. We talk about overcoming perfectionism in communication, the emotional cost of always trying to “sound right,” and how learning to communicate more authentically changed Dennis's confidence, career, and relationships. Whether you're a high-achieving professional who struggles with speaking with confidence, or someone navigating the internal tension between how things look on the outside and how they feel on the inside, I invite you to listen to Dennis' story and remember that communication growth starts with self-compassion. In this conversation on personal growth through self-expression, Dennis shares the personal and professional growth that came from embracing his stutter rather than hiding it. Here's what you'll discover: How perfectionism shaped his early communication and why he's let it go Why speaking with presence matters more than speaking “right” The connection between mental state, mindfulness, and confident communication How spontaneity became more powerful than fluency A real-life “Billy Madison moment” that unexpectedly shifted his relationship with stuttering What it means to meet yourself where you are and how that changes everything And much more TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction to TranscendingX 00:39 – Meet Dr. Dennis: the people-person PhD who stutters 01:34 – The personal growth journey of Dennis Szymanski 02:07 – Diving into semiconductors: life as a high-performing engineer 05:13 – Life and career of a semiconductor engineer 07:08 – Overcoming stuttering: childhood stories and mindset shifts 12:28 – How mindfulness and yoga support confident communication 21:37 – Spontaneity vs. fluency: a new paradigm for speaking with confidence 35:48 – The pressure of unscheduled conversations 36:23 – How mental state impacts stuttering and speaking performance 37:11 – Using yoga and mindfulness to improve self-expression 39:32 – Embracing imperfections 40:01 – Meeting yourself where you are 40:48 – Mental resilience and its role in effective communication 41:29 – Saying no without guilt & setting boundaries 41:53 – Navigating social interactions 42:15 – A speech science hack for smoother, more natural speaking 42:31 – Language constraints, adaptability, and confidence in speaking 50:41 – The power of mantras in reframing your communication mindset 55:53 – High school memories and stuttering: a Billy Madison moment 01:03:24 – Advice to a younger self: letting go of perfectionism 01:04:55 – Final reflections   ABOUT OUR GUEST Meet Dennis Szymanski, a Long Island native who has lived up and down the East Coast while developing his relationship with stuttering. Now settled in a quiet North Carolina beach town with his partner Sam, their dog Rocky, and turtle Lennie, Dennis fully embraces coastal living. With a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from NCSU, he works as a Product Engineer for a British semiconductor firm. When not in the lab, Dennis hits the disc golf course, practices yoga, plays trumpet, explores entrepreneurship, and enjoys all things water-related. The beach remains his sanctuary - a place to truly "Be As You Are" (yes, that's a Kenny Chesney reference - he's a country music fan). Dennis began speech therapy in public school, later transitioning to private practice, but that was just the beginning. His journey through stuttering has involved numerous highs and lows that shaped his entire being. Various therapeutic approaches beyond speech therapy have helped him develop a more mindful relationship with his stutter. As an active Toastmaster serving as Treasurer for his Jacksonville, NC club, Dennis continuously pushes beyond his comfort zone while building his speaking toolbox and competing in speech competitions. His philosophy? Growth happens outside your comfort zone - and for those who stutter, joining a public speaking club definitely qualifies. But as Dennis would say: You can do it. You will do it.   ABOUT YOUR HOST Uri Schneider, M.A. CCC -SLP is co-founder and leader at Schneider Speech; creator and host of Transcending Stuttering; and faculty at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.   SEE FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.transcendingx.com/podcast-episode/dennis-szymanski  LEARN MORE Visit http://www.transcendingx.com or http://www.schneiderspeech.com

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Xingchen Ye of Indiana University about his research group's studies on the fundamental behavior of colloidal materials. Colloidal materials consist of liquids with nanoparticles suspended in them. Ye's team is interested in how a colloidal material's properties change as the team spatially rearranges the nanoparticles in the liquid. They looked specifically at the self-assembly of gold nanocubes into a lattice structure. Ye's team studied how that structure gives rise to the material's bulk properties. This work was published in a recent issue of Nature Chemical Engineering.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews Fabian Meder from the Italian Institute of Technology in Genova and the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Piza, Italy about his research group's device that makes use of wind-driven plant leaf motion to generate electricity which can power a chemical delivery system. Their triboelectric nanogenerator involves an artificial leaf made of a 500 μm silicone elastomer layer and an electrode made from indium tin oxide. This is attached to the leaf of a plant. A gold-coated pin electrode inserted in the stem of the plant harvests charges from the plant tissue. This work was published in a recent issue of Bioinspiration & Biomimetic. 

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Sophia Chen interviews Bowen Deng, a graduate student in Gerbrand Ceder's group at the University of California, Berkeley, about their work on increasing the accuracy of artificial intelligence/machine learning materials prediction models. The use of computer simulations to predict the interaction between atoms in a given molecule is being replaced by machine learning. Researchers describe the atoms' collective interactions as a quantity of energy, where higher energies correspond to stronger forces holding the molecule together. Now, Deng's research group studied three machine learning models and found that they tend to predict lower energies than what is accurate by about 20 percent. The researchers have determined that these underpredictions were caused by biased training data and they found a way to remedy the situation. This work was published in a recent issue of NPJ Computational Materials.

We're experimenting and would love to hear from you!In this episode of 'Discover Daily', we begin with rumors about Apple's iPhone 17 lineup. Recent leaks suggest the phones will have a dramatic redesign, featuring a  horizontal camera bar across all models and introducing the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. The Pro Max variant may also have a cutting-edge metalens technology that could transform the iconic Dynamic Island, potentially setting new standards for smartphone design.OpenAI's latest update to ChatGPT marks a significant shift in AI interaction, removing restrictive warning messages while maintaining essential safety protocols. This change, championed by product head Nick Turley, allows for more natural conversations around complex topics like mental health and fiction, addressing long-standing concerns about the platform's limitations while ensuring responsible AI usage.The final story features an innovative breakthrough from Filipino scientists at Ateneo de Manila University, who have developed a cost-effective method to create transparent aluminum oxide. This remarkable achievement uses simple microdroplets of acid and minimal electricity, potentially revolutionizing industries from electronics to solar energy. While experts remain cautiously optimistic about scaling challenges, this development could transform everything from smartphone screens to building materials, showcasing how innovative thinking can solve complex engineering challenges.From Perplexity's Discover Feed:https://www.perplexity.ai/page/iphone-17-design-may-be-drasti-oylUbPVXRh.42WcTn.8bpg https://www.perplexity.ai/page/chatgpt-removes-content-warnin-IJNbBZ5OTT2aLK9HSoW84g https://www.perplexity.ai/page/see-through-aluminum-breakthro-ahsOUUCvQfCTByCO5ylvSA **Introducing Perplexity Deep Research:**https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-deep-research Perplexity is the fastest and most powerful way to search the web. Perplexity crawls the web and curates the most relevant and up-to-date sources (from academic papers to Reddit threads) to create the perfect response to any question or topic you're interested in. Take the world's knowledge with you anywhere. Available on iOS and Android Join our growing Discord community for the latest updates and exclusive content. Follow us on: Instagram Threads X (Twitter) YouTube Linkedin

Sodium-ion batteries are at a critical moment of commercialization. With challenges in the lithium-ion supply chains, alternative battery chemistries are gaining attention. Could sodium-based solid-state batteries provide a safer, more sustainable path for large-scale grid storage? With low cost and readily available materials, sodium-ion technology could be a huge competitor. This week, Quentin Scrimshire is joined by Dr. Neil Kidner, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Adena Power, to discuss why sodium-based solid-state batteries could be a game-changer for energy storage. With a background in materials science and decades of experience in advanced battery technologies, Neil explains how Adena Power is pioneering sodium-based solutions, the key differences from lithium-ion, and what the future holds for alternative battery chemistries.In this episode, we'll cover:Why sodium-based solid-state batteries could be a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion.The challenges of lithium-ion supply chains and the potential for domestic alternatives.How Adena Power is developing high-temperature sodium-based battery technology.The role of alternative battery chemistries in long-duration energy storage.What investors and policymakers should consider when looking beyond lithium-ion.About our GuestDr. Neil Kidner leads the scientific and technological development at Adena Power, focusing on innovative sodium-based solid-state batteries designed for safer and more efficient grid energy storage. With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and over 15 years of experience in product development, Neil has been instrumental in advancing alternative battery technologies that utilize abundant materials like sodium and aluminum. His work at Adena Power builds on years of research in solid-state electrochemistry, with a focus on commercializing next-generation battery storage solutions.For more information on Adena Power, check out their website. About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

Sodium-ion batteries are at a critical moment of commercialization. With challenges in the lithium-ion supply chains, alternative battery chemistries are gaining attention. Could sodium-based solid-state batteries provide a safer, more sustainable path for large-scale grid storage? With low cost and readily available materials, sodium-ion technology could be a huge competitor. This week, Quentin Scrimshire is joined by Dr. Neil Kidner, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Adena Power, to discuss why sodium-based solid-state batteries could be a game-changer for energy storage. With a background in materials science and decades of experience in advanced battery technologies, Neil explains how Adena Power is pioneering sodium-based solutions, the key differences from lithium-ion, and what the future holds for alternative battery chemistries.In this episode, we'll cover:Why sodium-based solid-state batteries could be a safer and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion.The challenges of lithium-ion supply chains and the potential for domestic alternatives.How Adena Power is developing high-temperature sodium-based battery technology.The role of alternative battery chemistries in long-duration energy storage.What investors and policymakers should consider when looking beyond lithium-ion.About our GuestDr. Neil Kidner leads the scientific and technological development at Adena Power, focusing on innovative sodium-based solid-state batteries designed for safer and more efficient grid energy storage. With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and over 15 years of experience in product development, Neil has been instrumental in advancing alternative battery technologies that utilize abundant materials like sodium and aluminum. His work at Adena Power builds on years of research in solid-state electrochemistry, with a focus on commercializing next-generation battery storage solutions.For more information on Adena Power, check out their website. About Modo EnergyModo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our bite-sized video series breaking down how power markets work.

No Risk, No Reward. How This Semiconductor CEO Uses $MRAM Memory To Improve The World. Everspin Tech CEO $MRAMGuest:Sanjeev Aggarwal, President & CEO Everspin Technology (Ticker: $MRAM)Website:https://www.everspin.com/Ticker: MRAMBIO: Sanjeev Aggarwal, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. With over 25 years of expertise in the non-volatile memory and semiconductor industry, Sanjeev has been instrumental in shaping Everspin since its inception in 2008 through various leadership positions. Most recently, he served as the Chief Technology Officer driving product and technology roadmaps and business agreements with partners, vendors, and suppliers. As the Vice President of Technology R&D, he directed cross-functional teams to develop and qualify new technology and products. As Vice President of Operations, he managed manufacturing operations, supply chain, and managed joint development agreements for technology transfer and production. Before Everspin, Sanjeev was at Freescale Semiconductor and part of the team that spun out to form Everspin Technologies. Prior to his work on MRAM, Sanjeev worked on developing Ferroelectric memories at Texas Instruments. In 2005, he was awarded the Technical Excellence Award by the International Symposium on Integrated Ferroelectrics for his contributions to commercializing FRAM technology. Sanjeev is Senior Member, IEEE and his technical contributions include over 100 issued patents, more than 100 publications and numerous invited presentations. He graduated from Cornell University with a doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering and received his bachelors from Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi in Ceramic Engineering. Sanjeev is also a member of the Everspin Board of Directors.

In this podcast episode, MRS Bulletin's Laura Leay interviews David Cahen from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, about the impact surface defects have on bulk properties, specifically in the case of lead halide perovskites. In a perspective he co-authored, Cahen connected numerous experimental data from other researchers that exposed this phenomenon. By understanding how surface defects control the material's electronic behavior, researchers can pursue new materials for the development of long-lasting devices. This work was published in a recent issue of Advanced Materials. 

Nick Sonnentag is a Senior Principal Engineer at Oshkosh, where he contributes to the development of some of the world's toughest vehicles using additive manufacturing (AM). Drawing on experience from ATI, DuPont, and more, Nick possesses broad and deep expertise in 3D printing. In this episode of the 3DPOD, we discuss alloys, vehicle manufacturing, applications, and the readiness of directed energy deposition technology for widespread use. Not limiting his exploration of 3D printing to his work at Oshkosh, Nick founded Sunnyday Technologies to tackle the significant challenges in construction 3D printing. Rather than focusing on machines, he concentrates on the binders and the precise formulations needed to achieve specific properties in final structures. This approach stands out for its elegance and promise, diverging from conventional methods of discovering applications and materials. It makes this episode especially insightful. Nick also wanted to clarify that at one point, he mistakenly referenced General Atomics instead of General Dynamics and asked me to note this for accuracy.

In a recent episode of Category Visionaries, we spoke with Preston Bryant, Co-Founder, Executive Chair and Chief Commercial Officer of Momentum. The company has developed a groundbreaking materials science technology that enables efficient recycling of critical metals from batteries and other electronic waste. Originally focused on rare earth magnet recycling, Momentum pivoted to tackle the growing challenge of battery recycling, offering a solution that requires significantly less capital investment than traditional methods. Topics Discussed: Evolution from oil and gas exploration to sustainable materials processing Development of MSX technology for efficient metal extraction Journey from rare earth magnet recycling to battery recycling Building strategic partnerships in the battery recycling ecosystem Transitioning from founder-CEO to Executive Chair and CCO Navigating the challenges of commercializing deep tech Fundraising experiences and investor dynamics Future vision for controlling critical materials supply chains   GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Operate on shoestring budgets during hard tech development: Bryant emphasized the importance of being extremely selective with spending during the early stages. He noted, "You need to figure out how to make your dollar go further. You have to be very choosy about the projects and the feedstocks that you're willing to process." Early-stage founders should maintain strict financial discipline while validating their technology. Find the right commercial application through iteration: Momentum spent four years exploring different applications before finding product-market fit in battery recycling. Bryant shared, "From 2016 to 2020...we tried automation, we tried many different supply partnerships, and none of them really worked out for magnet recycling. But boy, did it take off for the battery recycling piece." Founders should be prepared to pivot their technology to different applications until finding the right market opportunity. Build strategic partnerships to demonstrate full value chain: Momentum's partnership with Cerbus Solutions and 6K demonstrated a complete supply chain solution from collection to end product. Bryant explained, "We decided okay, that would be a worthwhile, even though this was very custom to one sort of customer, it would show that we could do the whole supply chain." Deep tech founders should consider strategic partnerships that showcase their technology's role in the broader ecosystem. Navigate the transition from technical founder to scaled leadership: As the company grew, Bryant transitioned from CEO to Executive Chair and CCO roles. He reflected, "It requires different things of you, from being a startup founder to then being an actual manager of people to then being executive chairman...You've got to be willing to change or you'll quickly get swept aside." Founders should prepare themselves mentally for evolving leadership roles as their companies scale. Leverage accelerator programs for credibility: Getting into Halliburton Labs during COVID helped attract investor attention. Bryant noted, "That was great because they helped us not only build a product, but that name helped attract attention to us from investors." Deep tech founders should seek reputable accelerator programs that can provide both technical validation and investor credibility.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe.  www.GlobalTalent.co      

It's our final episode of 2024! We close out the year by learning about an alumnus who's making a difference in his community, chatting with members of the Mean Green Racing student organization and hearing from one of our Fall 2024 Great Grads. In this episode: Our new YouTube series, UNT Works, goes on the job with Mean Green alumni to see how their time at UNT helped them build their careers. Student correspondent Anthony Simone speaks with Metrocrest Services CEO Tracy Eubanks about how UNT prepared him for his career in business and nonprofit. (1:47-6:40) Our new Student Org Spotlight series kicks off with members of Mean Green Racing to learn more about their student organization. Learn more about UNT student organizations. (6:41-17:23) We hear the story of Anurag Gumaste, who started from humble beginnings in a small town in India and has now earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. (17:24-32:48) Q&A: The hosts discuss their resolutions and goals for 2025. We also check in with students to see what they have planned for the new year. Tell us your goals or resolutions by emailing us at podcast@unt.edu or calling 940-565-4341. (32:49-35:41) Helpful links: Follow our Podcast ⁠Transcripts⁠ Join the Conversation Email us at podcast@unt.edu Call us at 940-565-4341 Connect with us using #HFNT on X @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT

A program trains women as tactile medical examiners to identify tumors before they show up on imaging scans. And, in a materials science discovery, scientists made a liquid silk solution that hardens and picks up objects—not unlike Spider-Man's web.How Blind Women In India Are Detecting Early Breast CancerBreast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, just behind lung cancer. And the earlier a breast tumor is found, the more likely it is that the person survives their diagnosis.An international program called Discovering Hands trains blind women to detect even the smallest lumps and bumps through breast exams. The idea is to leverage the blind examiners' sense of touch, which may be more acute than sighted people's, to feel for breast abnormalities and, hopefully, catch cancer in an early stage.Discovering Hands has a cohort in India, a country where only around one in every two people diagnosed with breast cancer survive, and imaging equipment can be expensive or hard to come by.SciFri producer Rasha Aridi talks with science journalist Kamala Thiagarajan, who reported on Discovering Hands' program in India for NPR's global health blog, Goats and Soda.Accidental Breakthrough Makes Web-Slinging Silk A RealityWe're all familiar with Spider-Man—the red-suited hero who swings through New York using spider silk that shoots from his hands. While Peter Parker has a radioactive spider to thank for his shooting webs, scientists at Tufts University have made their own version of liquid silk that solidifies and can pick up objects.This discovery was made accidentally, says biomedical engineer Dr. Marco Lo Presti of the Tufts University Silklab. Lo Presti found that combining silk from a silkworm with dopamine and acetone made the silk change from a flexible liquid to a hardened fiber that attaches to objects.Lo Presti joins guest host Kathleen Davis to talk about the possibilities of liquid silk adhesives, and the advancements he'd like to see to make the technology better.Transcripts for each segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

On today's show, we have Will Gaviria Rojas, co-founder of Coactive AI, a groundbreaking startup transforming how organizations interact with unstructured visual data. With a robust background in electrical engineering from MIT and a PhD in materials science from Northwestern University, Will and the Coactive AI leverage advanced artificial intelligence to enable users to search, analyze, and gain insights from images and videos without the cumbersome need for extensive metadata tagging. Did you know more than 80% of our data is in images and videos? Is this the next Snowflake or Databricks?

This episode is sponsored by Netsuite by Oracle, the number one cloud financial system, streamlining accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, and more.   NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to  https://netsuite.com/EYEONAI to know more.  In this episode of the Eye on AI podcast, we explore the cutting-edge world of semiconductor innovation and its role in the future of artificial intelligence with Kai Beckmann, CEO of Merck KGaA.   Kai takes us on a journey into the heart of semiconductor manufacturing, revealing how next-generation chips are driving the AI revolution. From the complex process of creating advanced chips to the increasing demands of AI on semiconductor technology, Kai shares how Merck is pioneering materials science to unlock unprecedented levels of computational power.   Throughout the conversation, Kai explains how AI's growth is reshaping the semiconductor industry, with innovations like edge AI, heterogeneous integration, and 3D chip architectures pushing the boundaries of performance. He highlights how Merck is using artificial intelligence to accelerate material discovery, reduce experimentation cycles, and create smarter, more efficient processes for the chips that power everything from smartphones to data centers.   Kai also delves into the global landscape of semiconductor manufacturing, discussing the challenges of supply chains, the cyclical nature of the industry, and the rapid technological advancements needed to meet AI's demands. He explains why the semiconductor sector is entering the "Age of Materials," where breakthroughs in materials science are enabling the next wave of AI-driven devices.   Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay tuned for more episodes! Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI (00:00) Introduction  (02:48) Merck KGaA (05:21) Foundations of Semiconductor Manufacturing   (07:57) How Chips Are Made (09:24) Exploring Materials Science (13:59) Growth and Trends in the Semiconductor Industry   (15:44) Semiconductor Manufacturing   (17:34) AI's Growing Demands on Semiconductor Tech (20:34) The Future of Edge AI  (22:10) Using AI to Disrupt Material Discovery   (24:58) How AI Accelerates Innovation in Semiconductors   (27:32) Evolution of Semiconductor Fabrication Processes   (30:08) Advanced Techniques: Chiplets, 3D Stacking, and Beyond   (32:29) Merck's Role in Global Semiconductor Innovation   (34:03) Major Markets for Semiconductor Manufacturing   (37:18) Challenges in Reducing Latency and Energy Consumption   (40:21) Exploring New Conductive Materials for Efficiency   

R&D for materials-based products can be expensive, because improving a product's materials takes a lot of experimentation that historically has been slow to execute. In traditional labs, you might change one variable, re-run your experiment, and see if the data shows improvements in your desired attributes (e.g. strength, shininess, texture/feel, power retention, temperature, stability, etc.). However, today, there is a way to leverage machine learning and AI to reduce the number of experiments a material scientist needs to run to gain the improvements they seek. Materials scientists spend a lot of time in the lab—away from a computer screen—so how do you design a desirable informatics SAAS that actually works, and fits into the workflow of these end users?         As the Chief Product Officer at MaterialsZone, Ori Yudilevich came on Experiencing Data with me to talk about this challenge and how his PM, UX, and data science teams work together to produce a SAAS product that makes the benefits of materials informatics so valuable that materials scientists depend on their solution to be time and cost-efficient with their R&D efforts.        We covered: (0:45) Explaining what Ori does at MaterialZone and who their product serves (2:28) How Ori and his team help make material science testing more efficient through their SAAS product (9:37) How they design a UX that can work across various scientific domains (14:08) How “doing product” at MaterialsZone matured over the past five years (17:01) Explaining the "Wizard of Oz" product development technique (21:09) The importance of integrating UX designers into the "Wizard of Oz" (23:52) The challenges MaterialZone faces when trying to get users to adopt to their product (32:42) Advice Ori would've given himself five years ago (33:53) Where you can find more from MaterialsZone and Ori     Quotes from Today's Episode “The fascinating thing about materials science is that you have this variety of domains, but all of these things follow the same process. One of the problems [consumer goods companies] face is that they have to do lengthy testing of their products. This is something you can use machine learning to shorten. [Product research] is an iterative process that typically takes a long time. Using your data effectively and using machine learning to predict what can happen, what's better to try out, and what will reduce costs can accelerate time to market.” - Ori Yudilevich (3:47) “The difference [in time spent testing a product] can be up to 70% [i.e. you can run 70% fewer experiments using ML.]  That [also] means 70% less resources you're using. Under the ‘old system' of trial and error, you were just trying out a lot of things. The human mind cannot process a large number of parameters at once, so [a materials scientist] would just start playing only with [one parameter at a time]. You'll have many experiments where you just try to optimize [for] one parameter, but then you might have 20, 30, or 100 more [to test]. Using machine learning, you can change a lot of parameters at once. The model can learn what has the most effect, what has a positive effect, and what has a negative effect. The differences can be really huge.” - Ori Yudilevich (5:50) “Once you go deeper into a use case, you see that there are a lot of differences. The types of raw materials, the data structure, the quantity of data, etc. For example, with batteries, you have lots of data because you can test hundreds all at once. Whereas with something like ceramics, you don't try so many [experiments]. You just can't. It's much slower. You can't do so many [experiments] in parallel. You have much less data. Your models are different, and your data structure is different. But there's also quite a lot of commonality because you're storing the data. In the end, you have each domain, some raw materials, formulations, tests that you're doing, and different statistical plots that are very common.” - Ori Yudilvech (11:24) “We'll typically do what we call the ‘Wizard of Oz' technique. You simulate as if you have a feature, but you're actually working for your client behind the scenes. You tell them [the simulated feature] is what you're doing, but then measure [the client's response] to understand if there's any point in further developing that feature. Once you validate it, have enough data, and know where the feature is going, then you'll start designing it and releasing it in incremental stages. We've made a lot of progress in how we discover opportunities and how we build something iteratively to make sure that we're always going in the right direction” - Ori Yudilevich (15:56) “The main problem we're encountering is changing the mindset of users. Our users are not people who sit in front of a computer. These are researchers who work in [a materials science] lab. The challenge [we have] is getting people to use the platform more. To see it's worth [their time] to look at some insights, and run the machine learning models. We're always looking for ways to make that transition faster… and I think the key is making [the user experience] just fun, easy, and intuitive.” - Ori Yudilevich (24:17) “Even if you make [the user experience] extremely smooth, if [users] don't see what they get out of it, they're still not going to [adopt your product] just for the sake of doing it. What we find is if this [product] can actually make them work faster or develop better products– that gets them interested. If you're adopting these advanced tools, it makes you a better researcher and worker. People who [adopt those tools] grow faster. They become leaders in their team, and they slowly drag the others in.” - Ori Yudilevich (26:55) “Some of [MaterialsZone's] most valuable employees are the people who have been users. Our product manager is a materials scientist. I'm not a material scientist, and it's hard to imagine being that person in the lab. What I think is correct turns out to be completely wrong because I just don't know what it's like. Having [material scientists] who've made the transition to software and data science? You can't replace that.” - Ori Yudilevich (31:32)     Links Referenced Website: https://www.materials.zone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oriyudilevich/ Email: ori@materials.zone

Activists are celebrating billions in new spending to build transmission lines for renewable energy and to connect the U.S. power grids to each other (including, for the first time, the Texas grid). This spending spree is billed as a way of moving renewable energy across regions to cure the problem of wind and solar energy being complete no-shows at certain places and times. Is the smart way to solve our self-made energy shortages? The smartest people in the space say “No.” Dr. Bennett explains. He is Policy Director at Life:Powered, an initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise America's energy IQ, and holds a Ph.D in Materials Science. Follow Jacki: X: @JackiDailyHost TruthSocial: JackiDaily Rumble: TheJackiDailyShow YouTube: TheJackiDailyShow Instagram: JackiDaily Facebook: The Jacki Daily Show

Episode: 1280 On making data tell their story.  Today, let's figure out how to plot a graph.

Send us a textGeoff Gaw is an experienced mechanical engineer specializing in the medical device industry. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering and minors in Materials Science and Energy Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona, he has held leadership roles at Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, and Applied Medical. His expertise spans project management, product and process development, and manufacturing support. He has overseen the development of complex medical devices, scaling teams, and driving operational excellence from early development stages to mass production. Currently, he serves as a Sr. Principal Engineer at Edwards Lifesciences.Aaron Moncur, hostAbout Being An Engineer The Being An Engineer podcast is a repository for industry knowledge and a tool through which engineers learn about and connect with relevant companies, technologies, people resources, and opportunities. We feature successful mechanical engineers and interview engineers who are passionate about their work and who made a great impact on the engineering community. The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment such as cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us on the web at www.teampipeline.us