Podcasts about Oak Ridge

Avison Young's Justin Cazana on Knoxville's office boom, nuclear-driven growth, why tertiary markets quietly survived the office crisis, and how to build a dominant local practice. The Crexi Podcast connects commercial real estate (CRE) professionals with industry insights built for smart decision-making. In each episode, we explore the latest trends, innovations and opportunities shaping commercial real estate, because we believe knowledge should move at the speed of ambition and every conversation should empower professionals to act with greater clarity and confidence. Justin Cazana is a third-generation real estate professional and principal at Avison Young in Knoxville. Before commercial real estate, he spent nearly a decade in sports broadcasting — calling minor league baseball, SEC football, and Fox Sports Net Olympic coverage — before the family business pulled him home. In this episode, Justin joins host Adam Siegel on why Knoxville's office market never really broke, what Oak Ridge and nuclear growth are doing to demand, and why investing in people is the unlock most brokers miss. Introducing Justin Cazana of Avison Young Knoxville Third-generation CRE: sweeping warehouses and dinner table deal talk From Auburn journalism to minor league baseball broadcasting Hall of Famers in the same league and why he eventually walked away Coming back to Knoxville and learning the business under his father Opening Cushman & Wakefield's Knoxville office in 2010 with seven brokers Managing people is the hardest part — and why hiring a COO changed everything The 10x mindset: what are the 20 things only you should be doing Assistants, VAs, and why every broker should view hires as investments Why they left Cushman for Avison Young in 2015 In tertiary markets, the relationship outlasts the flag every time Knoxville by the numbers: a million-person metro, 24M square feet of office Why tertiary market office never collapsed the way primary markets did Smaller tenants, local ownership, and coming back to the office faster after COVID The retention math: upgrading from Class C to Class A pays for itself How HR became the real estate decision-maker The 11-minute commute and what makes Knoxville an easy sell No income tax, four seasons, UT football, and a Cubs AA ballpark Oak Ridge, nuclear growth, and 180,000 square feet of engineering deals in one year 92% occupancy, a supply problem, and developers ready to build on lease-up Why institutional developers haven't moved in — and local developers fill the gap Downtown Knoxville: no new office building since 1992 The next three to five years: nuclear, airports, Smith & Wesson, and more   About Justin Cazana: Justin Cazana is a Principal and broker at Avison Young's Knoxville office, where he specializes in both tenant and landlord representation across office, industrial, and retail asset classes. He holds both the SIOR and CCIM designations and has deep expertise in the Knoxville market, where he has built a practice rooted in local market knowledge and client relationships. Justin's career path into commercial real estate was far from traditional. Before joining the industry, he worked in television and radio sports broadcasting, including minor league baseball, Fox Sports Net and Comcast Sports. After transitioning into commercial real estate over two decades ago, Justin played a key role in opening Cushman & Wakefield's Knoxville office and later helped lead the migration to Avison Young in 2015. Today, Justin works across most commercial asset classes but with a focus on the Knoxville market and has built a reputation as the go-to expert for understanding one of the country's fastest-growing tertiary markets. For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi's blog.Looking to stay ahead in commercial real estate? Visit Crexi to explore properties, analyze markets, and connect with opportunities nationwide. Follow Crexi:https://www.crexi.com/​ https://www.crexi.com/instagram​ https://www.crexi.com/facebook​ https://www.crexi.com/twitter​ https://www.crexi.com/linkedin​ https://www.youtube.com/crexi About Crexi:Crexi is reimagining commercial real estate with an AI-powered platform built to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions at every stage of the deal lifecycle. From real-time data and market insights with Crexi Intelligence, to targeted property marketing and seamless deal management through Crexi PRO, and a transparent, time-bound bidding experience with Crexi Auction— Crexi enables users to evaluate opportunities, maximize exposure, and close with speed and confidence. To date, Crexi has subsidized over $2.74 trillion in property value, 26 billion square feet listed, and supports a growing community of more than 23 million yearly users.

BIG RECRUITING WEEKEND for the Vols. A much-needed push for David Gabriel-Georges from Baylor (Chattanooga) as well as Oak Ridge's Malik Howard. ---------- TalkSports is LIVE Weekdays from 8-11 a.m. on Fox Sports Knoxville/ Fanrun Radio. Check Out our Socials: "@FOXSportsKnox" on Twitter/X, "FanrunSports" on Instagram and Youtube Jon- @Jon__Reed on "X" Cody- @Cody__McClure on "X" Sam- @_beard11 on "X" Bubba- @BrandonShown on "X"

In this special mid-tour episode of Own the Road, Kelli and Bob Phillips map out the incredible six-month journey ahead as they continue their mission to explore 250 years of American history, culture, and jaw-dropping landscapes across all 50 states. From the cutting edge of the space age to the opulence of the Gilded Age, the second half of this itinerary is diving deep into the heartbeat of America. Hidden within the ridges of East Tennessee, Oak Ridge—the "Secret City"—stands as a monumental site of American ingenuity and ethical weight, where a city was built overnight to change the course of history and usher the world into the Atomic Age. A monumental triumph of American grit over nature, the Hoover Dam stands as a concrete titan that tamed the Colorado River, sparking the rise of the modern West and serving as an enduring symbol of the nation's ability to engineer the impossible during its darkest hours. The Bennington Museum stands as a vital sanctuary for the American rural identity, preserving the rustic, soulful legacy of Grandma Moses—a woman who proved it's never too late to become a national icon by painting the simple, enduring beauty of the American dream.

Four-star tight end Malik Howard from just down the road in Oak Ridge, Tenn. announced his commitment to Tennessee over Notre Dame, Oregon and others during his official visit with the Vols. GoVols247's Ryan Callahan and Ben McKee react to Howard's decision to commit to Tennessee on the latest GoVols247 Podcast.

Hidden within the ridges of East Tennessee, Oak Ridge—the "Secret City"—stands as a monumental site of American ingenuity and ethical weight, where a city was built overnight to change the course of history and usher the world into the Atomic Age.

Hidden within the ridges of East Tennessee, Oak Ridge—the "Secret City"—stands as a monumental site of American ingenuity and ethical weight, where a city was built overnight to change the course of history and usher the world into the Atomic Age. A monumental triumph of American grit over nature, the Hoover Dam stands as a concrete titan that tamed the Colorado River, sparking the rise of the modern West and serving as an enduring symbol of the nation's ability to engineer the impossible during its darkest hours. The Bennington Museum stands as a vital sanctuary for the American rural identity, preserving the rustic, soulful legacy of Grandma Moses—a woman who proved it's never too late to become a national icon by painting the simple, enduring beauty of the American dream. As a unique guardian of the American story, Colma stands as a sprawling, hallowed necropolis where the "silent" population outnumbers the living a thousand to one, preserving the ancestral heritage and diverse history of the West in a landscape dedicated entirely to the legacy of those who built it.

The new Oakridge Park Mall is open and on opening day it didn't take long for Drew to find the guy we see in every mall: the dude who's fast asleep on a bench waiting for his wife to finish shopping. Kudos to that guy for being able to fall asleep in the middle of a crazy busy mall on it's opening day. What unusual place did you fall asleep? Plus: experts share tips on how to cut costs on your wedding day what do you consider a sign that you've really made it in life? more rumours about who will be at Taylor & Travis' wedding

Community members outraged as B.C's Burnaby Hospital plans remain in limbo (0:54) David Xie, spokesperson for the Burnaby Neighbourhood Watch Western Premiers meet in Alberta: will the separatism issue be on the agenda? (14:13) Ben O'Hara-Byrne, Global B.C. Legislative Reporter AI data centres in Vancouver: economic opportunity or a threat to the community? (22:28) Carmi Levy, Technology Analyst & Journalist Our Energy Future: First Nations and Energy Development (34:34) Byng Giraud, President of Sedgewick Strategies The new Oakridge mall: will luxury last in a strained economy? (50:32) David Ian Gray, Retail Analyst, and Instructor of Retail Studies at Capilano University's School of Business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hva gjør du når grunnstoffet du vil studere knapt eksisterer? Berkelium er et radioaktivt grunnstoff som må produseres i små mengder over måneder og år. Likevel har det blitt en nøkkel til å lage noen av de tyngste atomene menneskeheten kjenner til. I denne episoden følger vi sporet fra en bjørkelysning i England til laboratoriene i Berkeley, Oak Ridge og Dubna, der forskere presset periodesystemet til yttergrensen.Vi lanserer også grunnstoffspillet Labyrint Hero (www.labyrinthero.no) der du kun ved hjelp av en PC, nettbrett eller mobil kan gå på jakt etter mineraler og utvikle egenskaper og teknologi som gjør deg i stand til å samle inn dine egne 118 grunnstoffer.Om du har peiling på å lage spill eller programmering mer generelt er det bare å gå inn på https://github.com/gskomedal/labyrint-hero og bidra til å gjøre Labyrint Hero til et bedre og gøyere spill, eller kanskje gjøre noe helt annet ut av det!Bli med oss på vår vimsete reise gjennom det periodiske system der vi får nerdet fra oss og gravd oss dypt ned i hvert enkelt grunnstoff, men på et nivå som alle skal kunne forstå. Med oss på reisen har vi eksperter som kan mer enn de fleste om de ulike grunnstoffene og hjelper oss å skjønne litt mer av det vi alle er lagd av. Vi er Gunstein Skomedal (materialteknolog UiA), Ole Martin Løvvik (fysiker, UiO/Sintef) og Birte Runde (journalist i Eyde-klyngen)Har du forslag til grunnstoff vi bør snakke om, gjester/eksperter vi bør invitere eller besøke, eller morsomme fakta og historier om et grunnstoff? Eller har du innspill til lyd, form, innhold eller annet? Send oss gjerne tilbakemelding på gunstein.skomedal@uia.no.Sjekk ut våre nettsider grunnstoffene.no for en periodisk oversikt over podcastepisodene. Du finner også videoer og annet stoff på vår youtube-kanal Grunnstoffene og eksperimenter - YouTube eller på Facebook

Originally released as Episode 509 on 08/27/24.Deep in Oregon's wild backcountry, one experienced outdoorsman began noticing a pattern he could no longer ignore. What started as uneasy feelings in remote forests turned into years of intense encounters involving rushed campsites, rocks thrown near tents, strange voices in the dark, massive tracks, and a towering figure seen at close range. From Oakridge to Diamond Peak Wilderness to the Three Sisters region, this episode follows a firsthand witness whose time in the woods gave him a perspective few people will ever have. Serious, grounded, and unforgettable, this is one of the most compelling Oregon encounter episodes yet.

A peaceful family camping trip at Hills Creek Reservoir became a night they will never forget. Savanna and Alex share their terrifying firsthand encounter after hearing strange owl-like calls, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread, and listening to heavy two-legged footsteps circle their tent in the darkness. What approached them at their campsite sent them packing in fear and fleeing the area before sunrise.This intense new report from Oakridge adds to the long history of unexplained activity surrounding Willamette National Forest. If you want real encounters, serious witnesses, and one of the wildest recent Oregon stories, this episode is for you.Area 58 Museum: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572788733343

Oak Ridge is at the nexus of the nuclear energy renaissance. One of the challenges is meeting the demand for the necessary workforce, and not just the scientific and technical workforce but the skilled trades workers needed to build out and operate the small modular reactors and other facilities that are coming. On Thursday, May 14, ORAU is hosting the Pathway to Trades Summit, which will convene industry, trade unions, academia, government and other key players to begin to solve for meeting this important need. Laura Hammons, strategic programs and operations manager for the ORAU STEM Accelerator and key organizer of the summit, sits down with Michael Holtz to discuss why the Summit is important, what participants can expect, and what she hopes will happen next. To learn more about the Pathway to Trades Summit or to register for this free event, visit https://orau.org/pathway-to-trades/index.html

What does real world STEM education look like in a high school where students run actual manufacturing contracts on industry-grade equipment, intern at MIT, and learn AI ethics alongside CAD? Joe Fatheree (Top 10 Global Teacher Prize, Illinois Teacher of the Year) and Dr. Mark Buckner (Smart Industry Top 50 Innovator, founder of Oak Ridge High School's iSchool and Wildcat Manufacturing) take Vicki inside a $1.25 million state grant program where 26 student-run contracts with 18 companies have produced near-net-shape metal 3D printing, augmented reality experiences, and graduates already working four to five years ahead of their college peers. This extended episode also tackles the AI conversation educators most need: where AI belongs in classrooms, where it doesn't, what neuroscience says about kids' developing brains in the attention economy, and why "just because you can does not mean you should" is the most important lesson STEM students will learn this year. In this episode, you'll learn: How Wildcat Manufacturing's profit-sharing model pays students for real client work The three pathways Oak Ridge graduates take — start a business, $100K+ workforce, or accelerate into engineering Why Mark teaches industry frameworks (Scrum, Lean, Toyota Kata, Deming) instead of "edu-ese" Where AI helps (rapid feedback, math practice) and where it harms (Grok Annie, social companionship, attention erosion) What the "Manhattan Project 2.0" frame means for AI policy and your classroom Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e933 EF Explore America STEM Tours sponsored today's show. Show students how STEM impacts the world up close and in action. Students could code robots with MassRobotics at MIT or explore marine ecosystems in Florida's coral reefs or even sit down to talk with a former spy in Washington DC. Students will learn how STEM thinking often shows up where you least expect it. Inspire your students visit efexploreamerica.com/STEM

If you take anything away from this podcast episode, Naomi Asher wants you to know you are enough, you are worthy and you have value. In this episode of Further Together, Naomi and host Michael Holtz talk about career burnout, the need for rest and recovery, and finding yourself in the process. Naomi is the author of the book, “Take to the Bed (And Bring a Cake),” about the importance of giving yourself permission to rest when life gets overwhelming (and life gets overwhelming at times), evaluate whether what you do and how you present yourself to the world aligns with who you are, and make adjustments as necessary. This conversation takes place in the context of the wide variety of career opportunities that exist in the growing nuclear energy industry in East Tennessee. Be trained in a trade, get a community college education, make a mid- to late-career shift that better aligns with your values – the possibilities are endless. Naomi is the founder and principal of The Maven Consulting. Learn more about Naomi The Maven here: https://www.naomithemaven.com/about Naomi is a long-time resident of East Tennessee. She attended Johnson University where she graduated with a double major in Music and Theology. She was hired as the Executive Director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland in 2010. While there she expanded the geographic service area, more than doubled the budget, created an endowment and reserve as well as increased volunteer numbers by double and retention rates from 41% to 92%. Naomi served on the Tennessee CASA Board and as a Regional Coordinator which allowed her to win and administer grants for the East Region as well as create regional marketing campaigns. She graduated from King University with her MBA in Marketing in 2012. In May of 2015, she was hired as the Executive Director of the United Way of Anderson, Campbell, Morgan and Scott Counties where she increased the budget by 42% as well as the geographic service area. She revised and rebuilt the grant-making process as well as created several community initiatives. She implemented annual Community Needs Assessments and provided technical training and support to other nonprofits. She is passionate about helping others thrive. Naomi is the Founder and Principal Consultant at The Maven Consulting and Doctoral Candidate at Carolina University where she is researching Nonprofit Executive Burnout. Naomi is a graduate of the Consortium for Social Enterprise Effectiveness through the University of Tennessee, Leadership Oak Ridge, Leadership Anderson County, and East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association. She is the Chair of Explore Oak Ridge, Past-President of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Past-President of the Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge, a founding member of the Anderson County Young Professionals, a board member of the Oak Ridge Center for Leadership and Community Development and the Oak Ridge Land Bank. She has served as the President of the United Ways of Tennessee and as a Regional Representative on the TN CASA Association Board. In 2017 she was named the Anderson County Chamber Young Professional of the Year, was the 2018 recipient of the East Tennessee Economic Council's Postma Young Professional Medal and the 2021 Oak Ridge Chamber Young Professional of the Year. She lives and plays in Oak Ridge with her husband Ryan, dog Winnie, and 3 cats Jerome, Miley and Rhaenyra. They are a foster family with a heart for teenagers.

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week, a major confirms nobody is replacing DJI in the consumer market, the FCC opens public comments on drone spectrum reforms, and Oregon tells the FCC to build drone test sites in the mountains.First up this week, a major report from The Verge confirms what we have been saying for months: nobody is coming to save the consumer drone market. According to the report, massive defense contracts have absorbed almost every American company that might have built affordable consumer drones. For example, Skydio confirmed they will not return to the consumer market, and the U.S. Army recently ordered $52 million worth of their X10D tactical drones. Why build a $500 consumer drone when the Pentagon is spending millions? We did see the Antigravity A1 hit the market recently, which is an 8K 360-degree drone that sold 30,000 units shortly after launch. But Antigravity is still a Chinese company, so they face the exact same supply chain exposure. Meanwhile, the Zero Zero HoverAir Aqua is reportedly dead in the water after failing to get FCC certification before the December ban. When volunteer fire departments or Search and Rescue can't afford a $10,000 enterprise system, they rely on affordable consumer drones. As we've said time and time again, this isn't a problem we're going to feel right now… This will be a major problem in 2-3 years. Speaking of, the Federal Communications Commission has released Public Notice DA 26-314, asking our drone industry what needs to be fixed to help the United States lead the global drone race. The notice covers six policy areas, but spectrum access is the biggest one. Right now, most U.S. drones operate on unlicensed 2.4 and 5.8 gigahertz bands, which are the same crowded frequencies used by your home Wi-Fi router. The FCC is asking if the industry should shift to the licensed 5030 to 5091 megahertz band. They previously allocated a 10-megahertz block at 5040 to 5050 megahertz for direct frequency assignments, but this has sat dormant. The FCC also wants to speed up experimental licensing and address Counter-UAS rules. Currently, Section 333 of the Communications Act prohibits willful interference with radio communications, preventing any counter-drone system that jams a signal. Comments are due by May 1st. We will have to see if they can create a credible framework before current exemptions expire in 2027.And our third story, all interconnected this week, The Oregon Department of Aviation has drafted an eight-point response to the FCC public notice. But instead of just asking for abstract reforms, Oregon is telling the FCC exactly where to build new UAS innovation zones. They identified three specific test corridors in real terrain: one in the Cascades near Oakridge, another along the Columbia River Gorge, and a third in southeast Oregon. Oregon argues that testing drones in flat, controlled academic labs does not produce data that transfers to real-world conditions. For example, wildfire response or emergency medical delivery are dealing with mountain passes, line-of-sight obstructions, and weather. Oregon also backed the push toward the 5030 to 5091 megahertz band for command and control links, emphasizing that safety-critical operations cannot rely on unlicensed bands. They also asked the FCC for a simple waiver process for trusted deployment of foreign drones during this transition period. That's all this week, join us in Post Flight where we share our opinions that may or may not be suitable for YouTube, and we'll see you next week! https://dronexl.co/2026/04/06/fcc-da-26-314-drone-spectrum-licensing-public-notice/https://dronexl.co/2026/04/07/oregon-fcc-drone-dominance-test-sites/https://dronexl.co/2026/04/07/verge-dji-ban-nobody-replacing-consumer-drones/

AMSEcast launches a new series exploring America's nuclear navy and Oak Ridge's vital role in its history and future. From helping shape the legacy of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to supplying nuclear fuel for today's fleet, Oak Ridge has long stood at the center of U.S. naval nuclear power. As the American Museum of Science and Energy prepares a new exhibit at the Wilcox K-25 Interpretive Center, this episode sets the stage. Our inaugural guest, Geoffrey deBeauclair, is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 30-year Navy veteran who commanded a ballistic missile submarine and later led the Newport Division of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. He shares his journey into the Navy's Nuclear Power Program, the demanding training and qualification process, and what it means to command a submarine at sea. Geoff offers a rare look inside daily life underwater, from relentless drills and rotating watch schedules to crew traditions, leadership challenges, and staying connected with family during long patrols. It's a compelling introduction to the people, discipline, and mission behind America's nuclear navy.

SummaryThis episode is for anyone following the quantum utility debate or curious about how quantum computers will actually contribute to scientific discovery. Arnab Banerjee — assistant professor at Purdue, guest scientist at Oak Ridge's Quantum Science Center, and one of the most-cited experimentalists working at the intersection of quantum materials and quantum computing — walks us through his career-spanning journey from growing magnetic crystals to programming qubits.You'll hear how Banerjee's frustration with classical tools that couldn't explain his own experimental data drove him to quantum computing, why a quantum spin liquid is like the vortex that forms when you throw a stone into water, and how his team used 50 qubits on IBM's Heron chip to reproduce the spectroscopic fingerprint of a real material — KCuF3 — matching data collected at Oak Ridge and the UK's ISIS neutron source. He also offers a nuanced assessment of where different quantum computing platforms excel, drawing on hands-on experience with IBM, QuEra, and D-Wave.What you'll learnWhat a quantum spin liquid actually is and why its collective behavior — like vortices on water — could enable naturally error-protected qubitsHow neutron scattering works as a quantum probe — using the neutron's own spin and de Broglie wavelength to reveal both atomic positions and energy levels simultaneouslyWhy Banerjee's team chose to benchmark quantum simulation against known experimental data first before tackling classically intractable problemsWhat the IBM Heron benchmarking paper actually showed — reproducing spinon excitations in KCuF3, a one-dimensional Heisenberg chain, with quantitative agreement to neutron dataHow different quantum computing modalities serve different materials science problems — IBM for fast, cheap operations on 2D lattices; trapped ions for all-to-all connectivity; D-Wave and QuEra for Ising-like HamiltoniansHow close we are to quantum advantage in materials simulation — Banerjee estimates 70-90 "good enough" qubits in 2D geometry could reach classically inaccessible regimesWhy Kitaev quantum spin liquids could provide a fundamentally different path to fault tolerance — topological protection from decoherence built into the material itself, not imposed through softwareResources & linksPapers & researchBenchmarking quantum simulation with neutron-scattering experiments (March 2026) — The news hook: IBM Heron processor reproduces real neutron scattering data from KCuF3. First direct validation of quantum simulation against experimental measurements of a real material. Proximate Kitaev quantum spin liquid behaviour in a honeycomb magnet (2016) — Banerjee et al., Nature Materials. The career-defining paper providing first experimental evidence for Kitaev spin liquid behavior in alpha-RuCl3. Discover Magazine Top 100 Stories (#18). Neutron scattering in the proximate quantum spin liquid alpha-RuCl3 (2017) — Banerjee et al., Science. Comprehensive neutron scattering study revealing fractional spinon excitations. Materials for quantum technologies roadmap (2025) — Applied Physics Reviews. Banerjee's roadmap paper on the pipeline from material discovery to quantum devices.Lessons from alpha-RuCl3 for atomically thin materials (Nov 2025) — What the decade-long study of alpha-RuCl3 teaches about 2D quantum materials.Guest & lab links Quantum Spins Laboratory, Purdue University — Banerjee's research groupORNL Profile: Traversing the Unknown, Befriending Uncertainty — Oak Ridge profile on Banerjee's research philosophy Purdue News: Keck Foundation Grant for Quantum Spin Liquids — $1.2M grant to probe Majorana bound states with optical techniquesCoverage of the IBM benchmarking work - IBM Newsroom: Quantum Computer Simulates Real Magnetic Materials — IBM's announcement of the benchmarking resultNature News: Quantum simulations verified by experiments for the first time — Nature's coverage of the milestoneOrganizations & facilities - DOE Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge — $115M National Quantum Initiative center where Banerjee is a guest scientistSpallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge — The neutron scattering facility central to Banerjee's experimental workISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Lab — UK facility where part of the KCuF3 data was collectedKey quotes & insights"The entire electronic industry is built around trying to avoid quantum effects as much as possible. This is the time when we need to make quantum our friend instead of our enemy.""In a quantum spin liquid, the spin directions move collectively in dancing patterns that look extremely ordered — but if you take a snapshot, the individual spins feel completely random." — On why spin liquids are like vortices in water"A spin is a qubit is a spin." — On why quantum magnets and quantum processors are fundamentally the same physics"We need to know whether what we are doing really makes sense. That's what this experiment is about." — On why benchmarking against known results must come before tackling unsolved problems"I would like to simulate the entire standard model using a quantum computer." — When asked what problem he'd throw at an unlimited quantum computer Related episodesEp 6: Better Qubits Through Material Science with Nathalie DeLeon — The materials science perspective on improving qubit quality, from diamond color centers to surface physicsEp 13: The Mysterious Majorana with Leo Kouwenhoven — The topological quantum computing vision that Kitaev materials could enable through a different routeEp 74: Majorana Qubits with Chetan Nayak — Microsoft's engineered approach to topological protection — contrast with Banerjee's materials-first pathEp 25: Material Science with Houlong Zhuang at Q2B Paris — Using quan...

Originally released as Episode 504 on 8/22/24.Jay is a gold prospector from Oregon who had a close-range encounter in the Willamette National Forest that changed the way he sees the outdoors. In 2016, while working a remote creek near Oakridge with a small group, Jay found himself alone on a steep hillside when he came face to face with something he couldn't explain.He breaks down the entire experience step by step—from the environment and positioning, to the behavior of the creature, to the split-second decisions he had to make while standing just feet away. Jay shares detailed observations about movement, body structure, and the way the encounter unfolded in real time, along with how it's affected him in the years since.This conversation gets into awareness in the wilderness, how quickly situations can shift, and what it's like when something you've only heard about suddenly becomes real.

Oakridge looks like it is getting another massive development, there's a new affordable mortgage model for the Heather Lands, more festivals are turning to the city as they struggle to survive and lots more. Redeye Collective member Ian Mass joins us with his City Beat report.

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “Art and Resilience: The Pollinator Garden at the UT Arboretum” by Mike Ross, Associate Professor of Plant Sciences and Jakob Johnson, UT Plant Sciences, Master of Landscape Architecture Student. As our relationship with Nature and access to natural spaces have become increasingly constrained by urban and suburban growth, we have seen a growing desire by homeowners, parks and municipalities for naturalistic landscapes that showcase plants as communities. This naturalistic planting design often seeks to abstract naturally occurring ecological habitats and put them in a context that, allows people to interact with the plants and their associates in more intentional ways. Pocket prairies, urban meadows, pollinator gardens, even rain gardens can serve these naturalistic functions that whether in bloom or in winter dormancy, can inspire the heart and captivate the mind. One such place is the Michelle Bradley Campanis Pollinator Garden at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The pollinator garden has developed into something really special during the last five years. In many ways this special garden resource serves as a prime example of resilience in design and the blending of that resilience with the art of landscape and planting design. My involvement with this project dates back to June 2020. At the time I had been at the University of Tennessee for almost a year and with covid, all educational programs, field days, master gardener and outreach events had moved online. I had been asked by the UT Arboretum team to give a talk on ecological landscape design. During the presentation I mentioned that I thought there should be a wildflower center in every state. This was something I brought up during my job interview back in 2019. I still feel strongly about that need. At the talk in 2020, the idea of a wildflower center for Tennessee resonated with Michelle Campanis, who is the Education Coordinator at the UT Arboretum who was at the zoom meeting. She reached out and said they had an area at the Arboretum that would be a great place for a meadow…would I be interested in helping to create it? And so began a multi-year collaboration with the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center (REC), Tennessee Naturescapes, undergraduate PLSC students from the Sustainable Landscape Design concentration in the Herbert College of Agriculture, and graduate students from the School of Landscape Architecture in the College of Architecture and Design. Brainstorming and Breaking Ground: Planning the First Steps Our initial discussions centered around a stretch of ground that was next to the recently constructed auditorium and its extensive rain garden. The ground that was identified had become a field of invasive plants, weeds, and assorted woody shrubs and small trees. The team's idea was to create a space that provided visual appeal from the auditorium and that also would contribute to future educational programs that, like the rain garden, could be focused on sustainable and resilient landscapes. In keeping with that charge, it was determined that in addition to shedding the invasive field we would use fire, herbicide, and solarization as ways to suppress the significant invasive species pressure on the site. Michelle led volunteers through weeding and prepping the site, Kevin Hoyt, the director of the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center and the Arboretum staff oversaw bush hogging, prescribed burns, and pesticide application. Don Williams and Tennessee Naturescapes provided the solarization material and I began working with students and research assistants to develop initial plant lists. The key to successful projects like this one that relies on using abstracted ecosystems is the ability to convey the concept across all collaborative partners. The effective control of invasive and weedy species in the selected site and the shared vision for the pollinator garden were essential for keeping the project moving forward across the last four years. Art and Resilience in Landscape Design An intentional landscape plan is at its most evocative when it marries art and science to varying degrees to bring about experientially rich moments for people to interact with their designed surroundings. It can take the form of extravagant fountains and terracing like the Italian renaissance garden at Villa d'Este or the over-the-top grandeur of French baroque landscape designs of master paysagiste, Andre Le Notre, or perhaps our more familiar works from Frederick Law Olmsted and Jens Jensen. However, as evocative as these landscapes are, they were not conceived within a conceptual framework that accounted for an understanding of ecology as a discreet science nor to anticipate disturbance regimes that included wildfire, site construction, drought or flooding. This is precisely where the pollinator garden fits into our contemporary sphere of landscape design practice. The art of planting design, the artful shape, color, and texture of the plants utilized balanced with the realities of ever-changing precipitation, management regimes, unpredictable weather and scheduling approvals for prescribed burn permits, and fluctuating volunteer schedules and knowledge bases. All impact the success and perception of the project. At the end of the day, the pollinator garden must be both beautiful and functional. It must serve the educational and ecological goals of the REC, as well as benefitting the casual visitor to the Arboretum. It needs to support the well-attended annual Butterfly Festival and other University field days that are part of the education and outreach component of the land grant mission that the REC serves. It must above all support pollinators and their diverse life histories. The resilience and the art must be linked for the project to succeed. The Significance of People as Part of an Informed Design Process A key component in this project has always been the students and volunteers who have dedicated so much time and invested so much of themselves to this undertaking. Whether planting, weeding, constructing, maintaining accessible circulation, or controlling invasive plants; through their efforts we have been able to make this project happen. With that said, I think it is particularly meaningful when the work allows student interactions with the garden to reinforce and teach meaningful skills that can shape their own understanding of the profession of landscape design and management. Students working as part of the Living Systems Design Group and the Ross lab developed plans, researched plant material, learned how to design on-site, set up and space plants, use technology, review spreadsheets, and managed the prairie and meadow ecosystem establishment. In some cases, I would bring my graduate and undergraduate classes out to help with planting. More than once, I had the distinct honor of teaching a beginner student how to plant a plant. While this may seem small or trivial, it illustrates how even students who are drawn to landscape and horticulture may have had very limited past opportunity to plant, grow, and interact with vegetation beyond the occasional house plant. The work we have undertaken at the UT Arboretum has shaped the professional practice and career aspirations of many students. This outcome is further evidence of the immense value that hands-on experiential learning has for future designers, landscape architects, professional gardeners, horticulturists, and landscape managers. Ongoing Lessons Learned in Managing a Designed Ecological System As the pollinator garden has continued to establish and grow, there have been key management and maintenance decisions that we have made that will shape its long-term success. First and foremost, controlling invasive and weedy plant encroachment is key to maintaining the structure and visual impact of the garden. Woody plants, even native ones, can markedly change the form and structure if allowed to establish in the meadow. While intentional use of woody plants for their structural and aesthetic contributions must be maintained, careful removal of woody seedlings plus annual burning has helped us keep the invasive and weedy plants in check. Fire, manual removal, ethical and judicious use of herbicides each contribute key roles in controlling plant compositions throughout the garden. Some species, such as goldenrods (Solidago sp., dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium), and asters (Symphyotrichum and Eurybria sp.) were always planned to be intentional parts of the project, yet these plant species were not intentionally planted or purchased; we knew from past experience that these species would naturally find their own way into our meadow plots and could be expected to colonize on their own. By that same logic, our expectation has also meant that some individuals of these species can show up anywhere and can regenerate in great profusion if left unmanaged. For these plant species, proper thinning, selective removal, and well timed cutting all aid in keeping these important pollinator plants behaving as good neighbors to the rest of the meadow community. Additionally, when plants are weeded and pulled up, native seed from flowering annual species that we intend to keep well represented in the design, are purposefully re-applied into areas of soil disturbance. In this way, there is propagule competition with the weedy species, and this interaction helps to offset the natural suppressive effect of longer-lived perennial plants on early colonizing annuals. Finally, because the garden exists as an interactive educational space, maintaining and managing circulation and pathways is an ongoing task. Plants mature and spread, sometimes obscuring pathways or sprawling into areas that are intended for more contemplative experiences. Thinning and plant relocation are important tasks needed for keeping the structure and design vision in place. All of this effort is dependent on volunteers and students who are coordinated by Michelle Campanis. Through continued effort and dedication, the garden is establishing nicely and keeping the vision flexible and resilient while not losing sight of the initial concept. A Look Into the Future As the project moves forward through the establishment and management phase, plants will continue to be added or subtracted. This is necessary to restate important design concepts, improve the aesthetic appeal, and keep up with the educational opportunities and needs of the UT Arboretum and REC. Final Thoughts The first formal discussions of this project that I was involved in began in June 2020 and this coming spring of 2026 the project receives its official name, the Michelle Bradley Campanis Pollinator Garden. While its official establishment date is attributed to 2022, the reality is that projects like this take years of dedicated work, advocacy, and commitment by many people, professionals, students and volunteers. We would like to thank Michelle Campanis, Don Williams, Kevin Hoyt, Jakob Johnson, Hailey Wright, JD Zimmerman, and my students past, present, and future that have and will work on the pollinator garden to help care for it into the future. Student's Perspective – Jakob's Experience By Jacob Johnson During my time at The University of Tennessee I have had the opportunity to work with professors who saw the value of engaging students in projects with real world implications. In our digital age the value of hands-on learning experiences is exponentially important. With the reality of the direction of education experiences that can now be fully gained online, the value of face to face or hands to dirt learning is something that can never be fully replaced. There is immense importance in actually seeing how hard work can lead to the physical manifestation of an idea. As I was nearing the end of my undergraduate studies in Sustainability, I was still unsure of how I wanted to utilize the knowledge I had gained in the classroom. Through a series of experiences being on site and taking the classroom outside to the world I discovered my true passion. My first experience with the UT meadow began in April 2022, while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree in sustainability with a minor in plant sciences. During this first visit to the arboretum I didn't know much about real world implementation of planting design…I knew how to dig a hole to its proper depth and to break up root bound plants, I knew how to identify certain plants that I was looking at, I knew the value in what these ecosystems provide, and I knew that I was excited to be a part of something bigger than myself. During this initial phase of the project I had the opportunity and guidance of Mike to mark out the boundaries for the planting zones, strategically stage the plants so there was structure, areas of reveal and lines of sight. Tasks that may seem minor to the average gardener, but these tasks would help jumpstart my pursuit of a career in Landscape Architecture. The next visit to the UT Arboretum was as a class, we began the laborious process of digging hundreds of holes for the plugs and containerized plants with the hope that the site would become a place where people and nature can meet or reconnect. Getting the opportunity to work under someone that is so knowledgeable in a field of study which aims to build and support communities of people and plants was an honorable task. It taught me that it was much more than just placing plants in the landscape, it was conversations about the plant communities and the species they support, the structural variation creating moments of wonder and others of reveal, it was about the intentionality of having bursts of color in moments along the path, and conversations about how amazing this place will be. It was through these types of conversations I was ignited with an inspiration that I too could gain these skills and knowledge to create places that provide beauty to our world while creating opportunities for essential ecological services to be provided. Upon graduating with my degree in Sustainability I began a summer job in landscape construction and that fall would begin my pursuit of my master's in landscape architecture. After about 3 years from the time I first helped plant at the arboretum I was invited back, this time to utilize the skills and knowledge I had been gaining through graduate school. My task this time was to help establish formalities in the design that assist in creating a sense of arrival into the meadow, as well as create opportunities for gathering. Through the collaboration and support of Michelle Campanis and Kevin Hoyt and oversight of Mike Ross I was entrusted with my first stand-alone landscape construction project. With the use of recycled on-site stone, I constructed planter beds to support Tiger Eye Sumac specimens (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger') to create a gathering space in the middle of the meadow. The entrance for the meadow was designed by Mike Ross and Margaret Mando (a fellow UTK School of Landscape Architecture student) and I was given the opportunity to do detailed construction design, material selection and sourcing as well as the actual building of the entrance. It has allowed me to create, to problem solve and to feel the fulfillment of turning something from just an idea on paper into a physical manifestation in the landscape. From my first experience of walking into a barren field of dirt to walking through the meadow and seeing a diverse mix of Carolina lupine, rattlesnake master, columbine, bee balm, big blue stem, husker red penstemon, false blue indigo, milkweed, mountain mint, and many more plants, I have sharpened my skills and sensibility as a designer, I have built relationships with people and the land, I have deepened my appreciation for our natural world and more importantly found a cause that I want to dedicate my life to…. creating places where people can feel a sense of wonder, beauty, peace and learn with nature. Through the opportunity and foresight of people like Michelle Campanis, Kevin Hoyt, Mike Ross and many more I have realized the true power and impact that a single experience of hands-on learning can provide to someone that is still learning and developing their place in the world. For these experiences I am eternally grateful. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Art and Resilience: The Pollinator Garden at the UT Arboretum appeared first on The Turf Zone.

Author Michelle Shocklee discusses her novel The Women of Oak Ridge and the personal, historical, and emotional paths that led her to the story of the Secret City during the Manhattan Project. Growing up near Los Alamos and coming from a World War II family shaped her long-standing connection to the era, but a chance encounter with a reader ultimately sparked her discovery of Oak Ridge. Shocklee describes her deep research process, drawing on oral histories, archival photographs, museum resources, and firsthand accounts to authentically portray life inside a city built on secrecy. She explains how she weaves history into fiction by grounding the narrative in the lived experiences of her characters, particularly women whose wartime work reshaped their futures. The conversation highlights the challenges of secrecy, segregation, and stress faced by Oak Ridge residents, as well as the lasting impact of women entering the workforce during the war. Ultimately, Shocklee reflects on Oak Ridge as both a hidden chapter of history and a powerful source of human resilience and transformation.

The U.S. Department of Energy spends roughly $8 billion annually cleaning up nuclear waste from Manhattan Project-era sites like Hanford, Washington and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. On this episode of the Environmental Transformation Podcast, host Sean Grady sits down with Steve Moore, president and CEO of Veolia Nuclear Solutions Federal Services Group, to discuss the agency's most pressing environmental liabilities and innovative remediation technologies.Moore describes the scale of the challenge: 56 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste currently stored in above-ground tanks at Hanford alone. He explains how Veolia's patented GeoMelt vitrification technology transforms reactive metals and radioactive waste into stable glass, and discusses the company's operations of two of the largest radioactive waste landfills in the nation.The conversation covers emerging opportunities to revitalize federal sites as data centers and advanced reactor facilities, the "competetition" model where contractors collaborate on complex projects, and why the nuclear remediation field offers meaningful careers for young professionals seeking challenging environmental work.

A decommissioned coal plant in Clinton, Tennessee is on track to become the site of America's first commercial stellarator fusion reactor.In this episode, Tony Williams — Executive Sponsor of the Infinity Project at the Tennessee Valley Authority — joins us to share how TVA is partnering with Type One Energy to build a proof-of-concept fusion machine inside the retired Bull Run fossil plant, with a full-scale 400-500 megawatt power plant to follow.We toured the facility and discussed what's actually changed to make fusion viable now — from Oak Ridge's exascale supercomputer cutting year-long calculations down to a single day, to advances in manufacturing and material science. Tony breaks down the economics of fusion vs. conventional generation, why TVA chose the stellarator over the tokamak, and how the project is being de-risked through a coalition of partners including Type One Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the DOE, and the University of Tennessee. We also explore what it means to repurpose aging fossil infrastructure for the next generation of energy production.Hosted by Logan Jones and Alex MercerMission Critical is proudly supported by:Valent → getvalent.comAble Construction → ableconstruct.com

AI has reawakened interest in nuclear energy, but rebooting America's nuclear age will take time and face challenges. Get your tickets to OPNEXT 2026 before prices increase! Join us on April 16 in NYC for technical discussions, investor talks, and intimate conversation with the brightest minds in Bitcoin. Welcome back to The Blockspace Podcast! Today, Dr. Hashem Hashemian, President of the American Nuclear Society and CEO of AMS, joins us to talk about the massive resurgence of nuclear energy in the United States. We dive into the shift from decommissioning plants to life-extensions of up to 100 years, the economic impact of AI and data centers on power demand, and the $12 billion investment flowing into Tennessee's nuclear hub. Dr. Hashemian explains why nuclear fell out of favor and the challenges the industry faces as it gets back on its feet. Subscribe to the newsletter! https://newsletter.blockspacemedia.com Notes: * 94 nuclear plants produce 20% of US power. * License extensions aim for 100-year lifespans. * $12B committed for nuclear fuel refining in Oak Ridge. * $100M Tennessee state funding for nuclear dev. * Global nuclear must triple for climate goals. * $1.7B Oklo recycling plant coming to Tennessee. Timestamps: 00:00 Start 05:51 Tennessee represent 07:56 State of the nuclear industry 10:42 Nuclear faded in USA 17:19 Barriers to Nuclear development 20:12 Reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 27:01 Red tape 29:47 What other policies would be good? 32:41 China copying 34:17 Remaining chokepoints 38:05 States leading the charge 40:46 Are SMRs really a thing? 44:18 Why are SMRs taking so long? 46:21 Fusion? Are we still talking about this? 48:56 Recycling fuel

In this members-only episode, we bring you a preview of multiple firsthand encounters that stretch from the swamps of Florida to the forests of Oregon and the mountains of Idaho.A routine fishing trip in a remote Florida wildlife management area turns into a ground-shaking charge through thick brush… followed by a chilling clap that receives a deliberate response from deep within the swamp. A late-night drive in that same area ends with a snapped branch striking a vehicle and heavy footsteps closing in fast.We also hear about a towering figure discovered near a strange backwoods structure in Oregon, massive birds seen during wildfire season, eerie vocalizations near Hoodoo Mountain, and unexplained lights in the sky witnessed while living off-grid.These are raw, unfiltered accounts shared directly by the witnesses. The full conversations, deeper details, and everything that didn't make this preview are available exclusively to members.Note: To get this full episode (and tomorrow's episode) early and ad-free then become a supporting member over at https://www.bigfootsocietypodcast.com OR become a Youtube member by tapping the JOIN button.

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (BOATS EP. 383) — Did the Oppenheimer movie get the Manhattan Project right? Today, we'll dig into the film's portrayal of the project. From the Los Alamos we see in the movie to what we don't see in the movie such as Oak Ridge's massive factories, Hanford's plutonium production, and more that you don't ever see in the movie.Get Alice's bookAlice Lovejoy is the author of Tales of Militant Chemistry, film scholar, and a professor at the University of Minnesota. She'll join us today to unravel the true story behind the Manhattan Project in the movie.Find more of Alice's workArmy Film and the Avant GardeRemapping Cold War MediaVisit Alice's websiteFollow Alice on BlueskyFollow Alice on InstagramListen to the other BOATS episode on OppenheimerChapters00:00 Manhattan Project Overview04:50 Uranium vs. Plutonium Bombs09:45 Scale of the Project15:28 Einstein's Role20:42 Trinity Test Depiction25:04 Radiation Concerns30:51 Project's End & Legacy33:52 Post-War ImpactsSupport my workSupport my sponsorsBecome a BOATS ProducerEmail me: dan@basedonatruestorypodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I'm joined by Leslie Schover, clinical psychologist turned novelist and author of Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak.Set during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Fission explores love, ambition, secrecy, identity, and moral conflict at a moment when the world was being reshaped—both scientifically and emotionally.Drawing on her parents' lived experiences and her own deep understanding of relationships, Leslie brings a uniquely human lens to one of history's most consequential chapters.From Family Stories to Historical FictionFission is rooted in the stories your parents told about life in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project. When did you first realize these personal memories could become a novel—and what shifted for you in turning family history into fiction?Atomic Power and Emotional FissionThe title Fission works on so many levels—scientific, emotional, relational. How did you think about the parallel between splitting the atom and the fractures within marriage, identity, and moral responsibility?Doris Friedman: Ambition, Identity, and ConstraintDoris is such a complex character—a young mother, a frustrated artist, a woman navigating marriage, ambition, antisemitism, and gender expectations in the 1940s. What drew you to tell the story through her eyes, and what does she represent to you?Psychology, Secrecy, and Relationships Under PressureAs a clinical psychologist, you've spent decades studying relationships, sexuality, and identity under stress. How did that background shape the way you portrayed marriage, desire, betrayal, and resilience in a world defined by secrecy and existential fear?Moral Ambivalence and LegacyBy the end of the novel, Doris and Rob are left with pride, guilt, love, and doubt—having helped save the world and also put it at risk. What questions do you hope readers sit with after finishing Fission, especially as we think about scientific progress and ethical responsibility today?As someone who returned to fiction after a long and impactful career in psychology and healthcare, what would you say to creatives who feel it may be ‘too late' to return to an earlier calling?

The Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of many Blacks towards the Covid-19 vaccine was a stark reminder of this nation's historical mistreatment of Black patients and their resulting distrust in the medical industry.The Tuskegee Experiment, also called the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, is the most commonly known medical malpractice of physicians towards a vulnerable Black population in the U.S. This research was conducted 1932 to 1972 by the U.S. Public Health Service in which Black men already, infected with syphilis, were diagnosed as having ‘bad blood'. And rather than providing them the proven and effective treatment of syphilis, doctors duped these patients by instead engaging in a four decades long study in which they observed the ravages of the disease on their bodies and health. As horrific as this study was, it was by far not the most gruesome and barbaric of malpractice. In March 1945, a Black truck driver, Ebb Cade was severely injured in an accident with what was believed to be life threatening injuries. He was taken to the Manhattan Engineer District Hospital in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Despite sustaining numerous broken bones, he survived. To his great misfortune, the doctors assigned to Mr. Cade were contracted with the US Atomic Energy Commission. When it became known that a ‘well developed colored male' was in the hospital, he was injected with Plutonium 239 by military physician Joseph Howland. Plutonium, described as the most ‘fiendishly toxic' radioactive substance and the same compound used in atomic bombs, was injected even before doctors set his broken bones. Subsequently, researchers pulled 15 teeth and extracted several bone samples from Mr. Cade to assess how plutonium moves throughout the human body.That March in 1945 Mr. Ebb Cade made history as the first person and Black man injected with ‘the most dangerous chemical known' without his consent or voluntary participation in a very dangerous research experiment. It can be baffling to consider what men subjected other humans beings, however the ignorant and prejudicial coloring of Blacks as inferior, barbaric or on the level with beasts provided a cover for these heinous acts. It could accurately be said of these well respected scientists and doctors that they, in fact, were the barbarians.To learn more about the diabolical history of medicine in the U.S., read 'Medical Malpractice' by Harriett A. Washington or search for Harriett A. Washington on Youtube to view her discussions on the subject.If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com. You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.Don't Just Join The Movement, Be The Movement!

In this episode, we explore a gripping collection of firsthand Sasquatch encounters stretching across seven states, from the forests of Tennessee and the wetlands of Florida to the high timber of northeast Oregon and the rural backroads of Pennsylvania. A bowhunter recounts a startling sighting near Oakridge, Oregon, where a tall, bipedal figure moved through the trees with steady, deliberate motion. In Arkansas, a witness shares what he heard his first night living beside the legendary Boggy Creek. In rural Pennsylvania, a woman opens up about the day she was followed by a towering white creature along a secluded country road.Listeners will also hear long-term activity reports from Florida's Bulow Creek State Park, where unexplained tracks, strange structures, and unsettling nighttime events have persisted for decades, as well as ongoing encounters along the Appalachian Trail in Lehigh County. From guttural roars that send animals fleeing, to unseen presences standing just beyond the firelight, each guest brings calm, grounded testimony shaped by years of reflection and life in the outdoors.These accounts come from hunters, hikers, ranchers, and lifelong woodsmen who know their land and recognize when something unfamiliar moves through it. Join us as we trace geographic patterns, recurring behaviors, and the enduring mystery of Sasquatch across America, following the locations, the timelines, and the experiences that continue to draw people into this phenomenon.

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Leslie R Schover, author of the book Fission. Leslie is a clinical psychologist and brings her knowledge of people and relationships to her fiction writing. She spent most of her career at the Cleveland Clinic and the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She published three self-help books and created a digital health company to educate people with cancer about sex and fertility. Will2Love.com won a 2019 Innovation Prize in the Astellas C 3 Changing Cancer Care contest. Her first published novel, Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak draws on her parents' stories of Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project and on revelations of Soviet spies there. She lives in Houston, Texas with her faithful dog, Luc.   In my book review, I stated that Fission is a wonderful historical fiction. Although set during WWII, this book takes place completely within the United States as we follow Doris and her husband Rob to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Doris' husband is tapped to work on the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program to create the first atomic bomb.   As a reluctant young mother and bride, Doris first has to decide if she will move to Oak Ridge or continue her education. When she finally moves to Oak Ridge, she has to figure out her place in a world very different from Chicago. Will being Jewish be something to overcome? Will her husband's lack of education stop him from advancing? Will Doris figure out her role as wife and mother? What will she do when romance comes knocking - and not from her husband?   I was excited to learn this story is based loosely on Leslie's parents, which gives an emotional edge to the characters - and you know how I love a good character! This is a must-read book that will give you an insider's look at The Manhattan Project and how it affected not just the scientists, but all who lived and worked in Oak Ridge.   Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1   Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290   You can follow Author Leslie R Schover Website: https://www.leslieschoverauthor.com/ IG: @leslieschover FB: @leslie.schover.9   Purchase Fission on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/4rRR3dp Ebook: https://amzn.to/48Cb92k   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors   #leslierschover #fission #historicalfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Today we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Mike Laufer, Co-Founder and CEO of Kairos Power, for a robust nuclear-focused discussion. Kairos recently marked its nine-year anniversary and has grown to 500+ employees across its headquarters in Alameda, CA, its manufacturing development campus in Albuquerque, NM, and its Hermes Demonstration Reactor Campus in Oak Ridge, TN. Kairos is developing its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR), which pairs TRISO pebble fuel with a low-pressure molten-salt coolant (“Flibe”) and is designed for modular deployment, including a two-reactor/one-turbine configuration delivering up to ~150 MWe. The company's Oak Ridge program includes Hermes 1, the first non-water-cooled reactor to receive an NRC construction permit, and Hermes 2, a commercial-scale demonstration plant intended to supply electricity to the grid. Mike earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. His research included work in reactor safety, design, licensing, and code validation for advanced non-light water reactors. We were thrilled to visit with Mike. In our conversation, Mike shares the early vision behind Kairos, the company's focus on U.S. electricity markets and building a reactor that can compete on cost, and their strategy centered on iterative hardware demonstrations and vertical integration. We discuss system-level parallelization, developing upstream/downstream “balance-of-plant” elements alongside reactor work to compress timelines and de-risk full-system integration, NRC engagement dating back to 2018, safety case fundamentals, sizing and product configuration, and how the Google partnership supports a sequence of deployments toward ~500 MW by 2035 (Google announcement linked here). Mike offers a realistic view of the nuclear learning curve and what it takes to drive down cost and schedule uncertainty over successive projects, how Kairos structured the Google deployment pathway, and the importance of setting achievable targets. We touch on how SMR winners and losers will be determined by project execution and delivery, not announcements, and Mike highlights common pitfalls in the conventional U.S. nuclear project model, including fragmented roles and misaligned incentives. We discuss Kairos's centralized “hub” model with clear decision-making authority, its approach to validating partners and execution steps at smaller scale before taking on multi-billion-dollar FOAK risk, and how the organization maintains efficiency by balancing multiple deliverables and hiring “wildly competent” people comfortable with ambiguity. We also cover how commodity inflation and supply-chain depth affect planning, Kairos's focus on strategic supplier partnerships, particularly in steel, concrete, and precast concrete, the importance of public trust and earning long-term community support, how non-nuclear test systems build real operating capability and flexible operating models, how AI may eventually improve execution and reliability, and much more. We're very grateful to Mike for sharing his time and expertise with us. Mike Bradley kicked off the show by noting that the 10-year U.S. bond yield appears to have temporarily stabilized around 4.2% and is awaiting Wednesday's FOMC rate decision. Most expect the Fed to leave interest rates unchanged, though volatility could ensue if they don't! On the crude oil front, WTI price has inched up to $62/bbl amid continued bearishness in financial contract length and recent severe winter weather. There's speculation that this Polar Vortex (which we've dubbed the “Polar Pig”) has reduced U.S. oil production by ~1.5mmbpd. On the natural gas front, the Polar Pig has spiked prompt U.S. natural gas price to ~$6/MM

EPISODE 667 - Leslie R Schover - Fission - A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, Oak Ridge and the Manhattan ProjectAfter retiring from her academic and clinical career as a psychologist, Leslie Schover has returned to her early love of writing fiction. She brings her knowledge of people, relationships, and sexuality to her novels. She grew up in Highland Park, in the suburbs of Chicago, and minored in creative writing at Brown University before receiving her PhD in clinical psychology at UCLA. Her mother did not want her to choose writing as a profession and told her that only someone as single-minded as Truman Capote, who had published a novel at age twenty-three, could be a successful author. Leslie spent most of her  psychology career at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She was one of a few pioneers in advocating for reproductive health in people dealing with chronic illness, especially cancer. She published three self-help books in the Jurassic age: Prime Time: Sexual Health for Men over Fifty (Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, 1984); Sexuality and Fertility after Cancer (John Wiley & Sons, 1997); and Overcoming Male Infertility: Understanding its Causes and Treatments (John Wiley & Sons, 2000). She was also coerced by colleagues, who wielded the powers of promotion and tenure, into writing thirty-five book chapters on sex and/or fertility after cancer, with the daunting task of avoiding self-plagiarization. She created all content for a digital health company, Will2Love.com, which received an Innovations Prize in the 2019 Astellas C3 competition for cancer care. Unfortunately, Will2Love, with its mission of helping people with cancer to solve sexual and fertility problems, did not survive the pandemic. Her first novel, Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak, is based in part on her parents' stories of life during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It will be published by SheWrites Press in January, 2026.https://www.leslieschoverauthor.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Kurt Terrani is CEO of Standard Nuclear, a company focused on a part of nuclear energy that gets far less attention than reactor designs but can become the true bottleneck: fuel.In this episode, Kurt provides a nuclear fuels 101, walking through the front end of the fuel cycle from uranium processing and enrichment to fabrication. He explains in plain terms what makes TRISO fuel different, why it appears so frequently in next-generation reactor designs, and how fuel performance shapes reactor economics, safety, and scalability.The conversation also unpacks Standard Nuclear's origin story, which emerged from a Chapter 11 restructuring of UltraSafe Nuclear, and explores a future where reactor-agnostic fuel suppliers replace vertically integrated fuel strategies to unlock faster deployment across advanced nuclear technologies.Episode recorded on Dec 4, 2025 (Published on Jan 6, 2026)In this episode, we cover: [1:53] An overview of Standard Nuclear[3:26] Nuclear's history in Oak Ridge, TN[6:07] The nuclear fuel cycle [8:35] US involvement and ownership in this cycle[10:17] TRISO fuel or coated particle fuel[17:56] Why enrichment access constrains deployment [21:43] Government's role bridging fuel supply gaps[24:03] Why reactor companies try vertical integration[26:26] Standard Nuclear's origin story [28:51] Why fuel must become a commodity[33:42] The case for standardizing TRISO specs[39:20] Challenges of building a fuels company 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

Lee Riedinger, Ph.D., knows the history of Oak Ridge and its connections to the University of Tennessee like he knows the back of his hand. His book, “Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present,” explores the connections that exist between UT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORAU and other key stakeholders. In this episode of Further Together, Riedinger talks to hosts Michael Holtz and Amber Davis about ORAU's role in the Oak Ridge story, including how ORNL may not have remained open were it not for the efforts of William Pollard, ORAU's founder, Kay (Katherine) Way, a UT physics professor, and others to open up what was then Clinton Laboratories to a consortia of universities. Additionally, Riedinger explains that ORAU was instrumental in the creation of the UT-Battelle partnership that now manages ORNL. Check out this fascinating discussion of Riedinger's career, his book, and ORAU's vital role in keeping Oak Ridge at the forefront of science. Lee Riedinger is an emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, on the faculty since 1971 and retired in 2019, and also served as the founding Director of the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education from 2010 to 2019. He received a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1968. His field of research was experimental nuclear physics, emphasizing properties of high-spin states in deformed nuclei. He is an author of 200 refereed publications, has given 60 invited talks at conferences and workshops, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His research was funded by the Department of Energy for 30 years from 1976 and was focused on experiments at accelerators at U.S. national labs (Oak Ridge, Argonne, Berkeley, Brookhaven) and abroad. Various sabbatical leaves were spent at the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark. He served as the elected chair of the Division of Nuclear Physics of the APS in 1996 and the chair of the Southeastern Section of the APS in 2004. In 1983-84, he was the science advisor to Tennessee Senator Howard Baker, who was then the majority leader of the U.S. Senate. He received the UT Chancellor's Research Scholar Award in 1983, the 2005 Francis G. Slack Award from the Southeastern Section of the APS, the 2008-9 Macebearer award (the top UT faculty honor), the Chancellor's Medal in 2012, the L.R. Hesler Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service in 2013, and the Graduate Director of the Year in 2017 from the UT Graduate Student Senate. In addition to teaching and research, he has served in a number of administrative leadership positions at the university: 1988-91, director of the Science Alliance Center of Excellence, a program devoted to building joint research between UT and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); 1991-95, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research; 1996–2000, head of the Physics Department; 2006-7 and again 2012, Vice Chancellor for Research. From 1993 to 1996, he was the first chair of the Tennessee Science and Technology Advisory Council, which advised the Governor and the Legislature on technical priorities for the state. In 1999 he was one of the leaders of the successful UT effort to choose a partner (Battelle) and bid on the ORNL management contract. From 2000 to 2004, he served as the ORNL Deputy Director for Science and Technology and from 2004 to 2006 as the Associate Laboratory Director for University Partnerships. UT-Battelle LLC has managed ORNL since 2000. Upon his return to the university in 2006, he led various efforts to develop a greater focus on energy teaching and research at UT. In September of 2010 he was appointed to be the first director of the UT-ORNL Bredesen Center, which is the academic home of a new doctoral program in energy science and engineering. In this role he taught the core two-semester graduate energy technology course and led all aspects of this interdisciplinary energy PhD program. A second interdisciplinary doctorate in data science and engineering between UT and ORNL started in August of 2017. He retired from UT at the end of 2019 and has written a book on the long history of the partnership between UT and Oak Ridge: Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present, published by UT Press in 2024. To learn more about the book, visit https://utpress.org/title/critical-connections/

Dr. C. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, speaks about the life, ministry, and enduring theological legacy of John Lafayette Girardeau—a figure often hidden in the shadow of Thornwell and Dabney, yet towering in pastoral warmth, covenant theology, and confessional clarity. Girardeau emerges as a remarkably gifted scholar, a pastor deeply loved by both enslaved and free Black congregants, and a theologian who married doctrinal precision with heartfelt pastoral care. Through stories of his early intellectual formation, his ministry at Zion Presbyterian Church, his courageous stand against segregation in 1874, and his role in shaping debates on adoption, the will, worship, and evolution controversies, listeners gain a moving portrait of a man captivated by Christ and devoted to the communion of the saints. This episode invites us to look beyond caricatures of Southern Presbyterianism and see a pastor who was shaped by his Huguenot and Scottish heritage, attentive to the spiritual well-being of the marginalized, and unwavering in his conviction that the church must be governed by Scripture and formed by a robust federal theology. Girardeau's story not only expands our understanding of American Presbyterian history—it encourages believers today to pursue ministry marked by doctrinal fidelity, Christ-centered preaching, and sacrificial love. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00:16 Introduction 00:03:28 Introducing John L. Girardeau 00:24:49 French Huguenot Background 00:31:48 Academic Abilities 00:42:29 Girardeau's Relation to the Church After the War 00:49:44 Significant Motions and Statements 00:56:05 Opposition to Segregation at the 1874 General Assembly 01:00:19 Influence upon Southern Presbyterianism 01:05:19 The Battle over Evolution 01:11:21 Works by Girardeau 01:21:59 Conclusion Links Biographical sketch on Girardeau This is Christ the Center episode 940 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc940)

Dr. C. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, speaks about the life, ministry, and enduring theological legacy of John Lafayette Girardeau—a figure often hidden in the […]

Let help uncork your memoir through a 12 week memoir mentorship program: https://mikecarlon.com/memoir-cohorts/ "I took my parents' stories from the Manhattan Project and wove them into a fictional spy subplot—because I'll never know the real truth." — Leslie Schover What happens when a clinical psychologist with decades of experience decides to write her first novel in her seventies? In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Leslie Schover shares how curiosity and family history inspired her debut novel, Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak. From Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project to love triangles and espionage, Leslie reveals the fascinating journey of transforming real-life stories into compelling historical fiction. Key Themes: Curiosity as a Superpower: How a news article about Soviet atomic spies sparked Leslie's fiction journey. Family Ties to History: Discover the real-life connection between Leslie's parents and the Manhattan Project. From Psychology to Fiction: Why Leslie shifted from publishing academic and self-help books to writing a novel. Challenges of Historical Accuracy: The research behind recreating Oak Ridge during WWII. Hybrid Publishing Insights: Why Leslie chose She Writes Press and what authors should know about hybrid models. Imposter Syndrome is Universal: Even seasoned professionals feel the doubt when starting something new. Awards and Validation: How Fission earned recognition as a historical novel and what that meant for Leslie. Buy Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Mqk1Rd Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798896360568 Connect with Leslie Website: https://www.leslieschoverauthor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslieschover/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.schover.9/ Substack: https://leslierschoverphd147820.substack.com/nuclear-fiction-newsletter Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. #HistoricalFiction #AuthorInterview #ManhattanProject #WritingJourney #BookPodcast #SheWritesPress #FissionNovel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leslie Shoveer is the author of Fission a book set in the early atomic age right as the bomb becomes a reality. Loosely based on family stories, this is a delightful read and an even more delightful conversation. More about the book: Fission tells the story of nineteen-year-old Doris Friedman, who gives up her dreams of becoming a concert pianist or lawyer when she marries Rob in 1941 and has a sickly, premature baby. Within months, Rob is recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, and the young family moves to Oak Ridge. Just like fission splits an atom's nucleus, Doris's marriage threatens to break her heart in two, as she struggles to nurture her daughter while Rob works around the clock. Doris befriends Betty, a Southern debutante. Despite their different backgrounds, the two women sustain each other through difficult moments: Betty's miscarriage, Rob's radiation exposure, and his subsequent attempt to enlist to fight at the front. Doris falls for an army engineer—only to realize that he may be a Soviet spy. Should she turn him in and risk damaging her marriage? As the end of the war nears, Doris must decide what's most important—and what she's willing to lose.You can visit Cameron online at CameronJournal.com Watch The Cameron Journal Newshour every Monday at 7 pm!Part of the SOOPcast Podcast Network

Catherine the Great is a project by Catherine Backus that primarily exists as a repository for her feelings. Her sad songs have drawn numerous accolades, including 1st place at the Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, 4th place at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase, and finalist in the Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards. Over the course of her career, she's shared stages with folks like Molly Tuttle, Kim Richey, Willie Watson, and Ben Sollee. She performs her song "Bear Creek Prophet", written about the John Hendrix, (1865–1915), fondly remembered as “The Prophet of Oak Ridge,” was a humble Tennessee farmer whose extraordinary visions foretold the bustling city that would one day rise in Bear Creek Valley, a place destined to play a pivotal role in shaping the history during the Manhattan Project.Learn more about Catherine the Great: https://catherinethegreatmusic.com/Appalachian Vibes Radio Show from WNCW is listener nominated, you can nominate an artist by emailing Amanda at appalachianvibes@gmail.com. Appalachian Vibes Radio Show is created and produced by Amanda Bocchi, a neo soul singer-songwriter, multi instrumentalist and journalist hailing from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.

 Industrial cooling is one of the biggest levers industrial facilities can pull on water use—and it's getting harder to ignore as data centers and other high-heat operations grow. Returning guest Dr. Kelle Zeiher (Project Manager at Garratt Callahan) breaks down what water reuse looks like when you move past slogans and into the realities of pretreatment, concentrate management, footprint, and cost.  Cooling water reuse: the scale of the opportunity  Dr. Zeiher reframes "drought" beyond rainfall, emphasizing aquifer recharge and the limits of focusing only on household restrictions. She contrasts domestic use (~12%) with the much larger share tied to cooling (~50%), then connects that to why optimizing industrial cooling matters—especially when operations sit in arid, desert-like regions with limited water availability. She also shares a data-center statistic that puts "the cloud" into physical terms: ~53 gallons of purified water per gigabyte of data stored to keep environments cool enough for microchips.  Higher cycles, RO blending, and the concentrate question  The conversation moves into practical tower strategy: driving cycles up as far as the water and metallurgy allow. Dr. Zeiher describes a case moving from three cycles to six with RO blending and pretreatment, resulting in millions of gallons saved annually. From there, the engineering problem becomes unavoidable: higher cycles create a concentrated cooling-water stream, and RO adds its own waste stream. The key operational question is how to manage both streams without trading water savings for disposal and reliability issues.  Minimal liquid discharge, and the AEROS approach  "Zero liquid discharge" (ZLD) remains a theoretical target, but Dr. Zeiher is clear about the realities: ZLD can require large equipment and high energy demand. She shares a cost example where a 20 gpm ZLD concept came in at nearly $8 million in capital. Her team's approach focuses on minimal liquid discharge (MLD)—recovering roughly 80–90% of water rather than 98–99%, while reducing energy intensity and footprint. She introduces AEROS (Aqueous Recovery Optimization System): rapid precipitation/conditioning, followed by sequential mechanical and membrane filtration, then an RO polishing step to return purified water.  Industry wisdom: proof-first projects, relationships, and AI  You'll also hear Dr. Zeiher's "proof-first" pathway—bench-style testing, then a 5–10 gpm flow-through evaluation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (with BioLargo)—plus a process guarantee framework and how credits can apply toward a final system. She closes with leadership lessons on documentation, continuity of customer care, and practical guidance for working with AI: feed it strong technical inputs, then apply human critical thinking before recommendations reach customers.  Listen to the full conversation above. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps   02:40 — End-of-year reflection becomes a professional challenge: keep learning fast enough to keep systems stable and clients confident. 05:50 — "Dry December" as a discipline story—used to tee up Trace's broader point: habits beat calendar-based resolutions. 12:00 — Water You Know  13:10 — The events page pitch: planning early protects training time and reduces last-minute operational fire drills. 17:00 — Dr. Kelle Zeiher returns after Episode 351; AWT Louisville hallway energy turns into a deep dive on reuse. 18:40 — Mystery novels as technical storytelling: The Cupcake Caper, real lab practices, and a pen name built for a non-scientific audience. 20:50 — Data centers and water: 53 gallons per GB stored reframes "the cloud" as heat management with real resource costs. 23:40 — Macro water math: 50% of U.S. water use tied to cooling vs. 12% domestic—why industrial optimization moves the needle. 27:50 — "Pretreatment is everything": RO's tiny flow channels make debris control and scale prevention non-negotiable. 30:10 — Cycles example: 3 to 6 cycles with RO blending/pretreatment, plus the caution that RO-softened blends can increase corrosion risk. 31:30 — ZLD vs. MLD: energy-heavy evaporation/distillation compared to a lower-energy recovery target that still returns most water. 33:50 — AEROS explained: rapid precipitation + filtration + RO polish, with solids handling designed to keep water moving back to the front end. 37:00 — Customer pathway: bench demos → Oak Ridge pilot (5–10 gpm) → engineered system; upfront testing credits toward purchase. 43:20 — Performance accountability: process guarantee includes refund/take-back if promised performance can't be met. 47:40 — Trust and continuity: plant presence, documentation, and relationship handoffs prevent "solution drift" when people change roles. 54:40 — Working with AI: feed it strong data, then apply human critical thinking so recommendations don't outpace experience.     Quotes "Water is not a limitless resource. It's a finite resource, and we simply purify it and reuse it over and over again." "We have to learn to work with AI when it's still a toddler before it grows up into the 6th grade bully and beats you up for your lunch money."  "Persistence overcomes almost anything."  "An AI will give you a great outline for a presentation, but it won't give you a full presentation."    Connect with Dr. Kelle Zeiher Phone: (630) 660-3457  Email: kzeiher@g-c.com   Website: Water Treatment Expertise Since 1904 I Garratt-Callahan  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelle-zeiher-6bab221/     Guest Resources Mentioned   The Cupcake Caper (Undercover Cat Mysteries) by Kelle Z Riley  Process Heating and Cooling Show Paper (Cooling Tower Cycles & MLD)  Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI Paperback by Ethan Mollick   Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World Paperback by Jenn Granneman (Author), Andre Sólo (Author)  Empower Your Investing: Adopting Best Practices From John Templeton, Peter Lynch, and Warren Buffett Hardcover by Scott A. Chapman CFA  Membrane Technologies for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Advances, Challenges, and Applications in Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and Minimal Liquid Discharge (MLD) Systems  Comparative techno-economic and environmental analysis of minimal liquid discharge (MLD) and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) desalination systems for seawater brine treatment and valorization  Forever Chemicals: A Look at the History, Regulations, Emerging Trends and Technologies to Solve the PFAS Crisis    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  The Rising Tide Mastermind 351 Maximizing Water's Potential: Tech and Water Treaters in Perfect Harmony    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: How much heat energy does it take to heat 1 pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit?    Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

Dr. Fred started his career at Oak Ridge with the Atomic Commission study the radiation effects on placenta transfer. Today is still working with human health systems as well as livestock diets.

Join Bigfoot Society as we sit down with Carlos Abascal—spiritual explorer, author, and worldwide Sasquatch experiencer—for one of the most mind-bending episodes yet. Carlos reveals what he's uncovered in Bend, Oregon, the Willamette National Forest, Cascade Lakes, Paulina Lake, Oakridge, and even the Olympic National Forest in Washington: impenetrable Sasquatch structures, massive tree formations, fresh footprints, vocalizations, and coastal “nursery” shelters built for young Bigfoot.But the story doesn't stay in the Pacific Northwest. Carlos takes us across Portugal, Spain, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, and Bosnia, sharing how he repeatedly encountered Sasquatch signs—structures, glyphs, bent trees, energetic sensations, and powerful synchronicities—everywhere he traveled. From hidden megalithic formations in Portugal to Bosnian pyramid glyphs that mirror Idaho forest symbols, Carlos connects patterns that span continents.This episode dives into:Sasquatch structures, tree breaks, footprints, and energy signaturesMultidimensional Bigfoot theories and energetic communicationWhy certain people are “selected” to notice Sasquatch activityGlobal locations where Carlos found evidence—often without even searchingHis belief that Sasquatch are keepers of portals and teachers of spiritual ascensionHow music, vibration, and intention may play a role in Bigfoot interactionIf you're fascinated by Bigfoot, Sasquatch structures, multidimensional experiences, high-strangeness, global hotspots, spiritual encounters, or hidden ancient sites, this episode is a must-listen.Resources:Get Carlos's book here - https://books.by/mymysticbooks

Welcome to Almost in Agreement!  We love a parade...for any of you checking us out for the first time WELCOME... This week, I recount my heroing journey down Gay Street at 7pm on 12/5...it was super SCARY. Then Sam and I chat on KCS offically asking the State NOT to make them track immigration status of students, God is SUING Knox County Schools becase tax payers wont pay for his school,  US Dept. of Energy is dumping $400mill into Oak Ridge for NEW NUKES...and lots more!

Episode overviewThis episode of The New Quantum Era features a conversation with Quantum Brilliance co‑founder and CEO Mark Luo and independent board chair Brian Wong about diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers as a platform for both quantum computing and quantum sensing. The discussion covers how NV centers work, what makes diamond‑based qubits attractive at room temperature, and how to turn a lab technology into a scalable product and business.What are diamond NV qubits?  Mark explains how nitrogen vacancy centers in synthetic diamond act as stable room‑temperature qubits, with a nitrogen atom adjacent to a missing carbon atom creating a spin system that can be initialized and read out optically or electronically. The rigidity and thermal properties of diamond remove the need for cryogenics, complex laser setups, and vacuum systems, enabling compact, low‑power quantum devices that can be deployed in standard environments.Quantum sensing to quantum computing  NV centers are already enabling ultra‑sensitive sensing, from nanoscale MRI and quantum microscopy to magnetometry for GPS‑free navigation and neurotech applications using diamond chips under growing brain cells. Mark and Brian frame sensing not as a hedge but as a volume driver that builds the diamond supply chain, pushes costs down, and lays the manufacturing groundwork for future quantum computing chips.Fabrication, scalability, and the value chain  A key theme is the shift from early “shotgun” vacancy placement in diamond to a semiconductor‑style, wafer‑like process with high‑purity material, lithography, characterization, and yield engineering. Brian characterizes Quantum Brilliance's strategy as “lab to fab”: deciding where to sit in the value chain, leveraging the existing semiconductor ecosystem, and building a partner network rather than owning everything from chips to compilers.Devices, roadmaps, and hybrid nodes  Quantum Brilliance has deployed room‑temperature systems with a handful of physical qubits at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Fraunhofer IAF, and the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre. Their roadmap targets application‑specific quantum computing with useful qubit counts toward the end of this decade, and lunchbox‑scale, fault‑tolerant systems with on the order of 50–60 logical qubits in the mid‑2030s.Modality tradeoffs and business discipline  Mark positions diamond NV qubits as mid‑range in both speed and coherence time compared with superconducting and trapped‑ion systems, with their differentiator being compute density, energy efficiency, and ease of deployment rather than raw gate speed. Brian brings four decades of experience in semiconductors, batteries, lidar, and optical networking to emphasize milestones, early revenue from sensing, and usability—arguing that making quantum devices easy to integrate and operate is as important as the underlying physics for attracting partners, customers, and investors.Partners and ecosystem  The episode underscores how collaborations with institutions such as Oak Ridge, Fraunhofer, and Pawsey, along with industrial and defense partners, help refine real‑world requirements and ensure the technology solves concrete problems rather than just hitting abstract benchmarks. By co‑designing with end users and complementary hardware and software vendors, Quantum Brilliance aims to “democratize” access to quantum devices, moving them from specialized cryogenic labs to desks, edge systems, and embedded platforms.

It’s a story of family secrets, pain and loss. On a fiction Friday edition of Chris Fabry Live, we welcome novelist and Christy Award Book of the Year winner, Michelle Shocklee. Her novel, All We Thought We Knew, is set in a small town in Tennessee in the middle of two great conflicts—World War II and the Vietnam War. Hear how this story might help you resolve some conflicts in your own life on Chris Fabry Live. Featured resources:All We Thought We Knew by Michelle ShockleeThe Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle ShockleeChristy Awards November thank you gift:The Little Christmas Carol Coloring & Activity Book by Joe Sutphin and Erik M. Peterson Chris Fabry Live is listener-supported. To support the program, click here. Care NetBecome a Back Fence Partner: https://moodyradio.org/donateto/chrisfabrylive/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reverend Vernon Sansom is the Director of Operations at Oak Ridge Memorial Park (ORMP) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He joined the team in 2020 as a Family Service Counselor after retiring from 40 years of service in Pastoral Ministry. Vernon was promoted to Director of Operations at ORMP in 2022. Vernon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Bethel University and a Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary. Before his career at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, Vernon entered full-time ministry in 1980 and was ordained in 1987. He has previously pastored First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as well as churches in Ovilla, Texas, Ft. Worth, Texas, Bolivar Tennessee and served on staff in Longview, Texas. Reverend Sansom served as the Stated Clerk of Red River Presbytery for 10 years and the Engrossing Clerk of The General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for 9 years. Vernon serves as a Chaplain for the Oak Ridge Police Department and earned Basic Certification through the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC). He also serves as the Chaplain for TN II Chapter of the Blue Knights, International. Vernon's wife, Tina, is a retired Registered Nurse. They have three grown children and nine grandchildren.Music is provided by Pierce Murphy, Caldera Blue. Source:  https://www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Pierce_Murphy/through-the-olive-branches/caldera-blueComments: http://freemusicarchive.org/Additional comments:  modifications made to shorten and loop song for introduction and closing of podcast.Copyright Attribution and License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee was home to 75,000 residents, who consumed more energy than New York City. Most of the world didn't know that the town even existed. And most of the people who lived there, who were largely young women from small towns across the America, didn't know the true nature of the work they were doing day after day in the hulking factories that had been hastily built in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. That is until the end of the war when Oak Ridge's important secret was revealed, namely that Oak Ridge had served as the production site of the Manhattan Project, and the huge factories there produced highly enriched uranium and plutonium as fuel for the world's first nuclear weapons. Oak Ridge's important historical mission and the lives of the mostly women who worked there are brought to life in Denise Kiernan's excellent book, The Girls of Atomic City, which is an important addition to our country's history. Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, I get to chat with historical fiction author Michelle Shocklee about her new novel, The Women of Oak Ridge. Shockley shares her background, inspiration for the book, and insights into the historical context of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during World War II. Our discussion delves into her research process, the dual timelines of the novel, and the challenging technical subjects involved. Michelle discusses her writing routine, research joys, and her journey to becoming a published author, including the importance of support from mentors like Tracy Peterson. The episode wraps up with some fun questions about Michelle's writing habits and how she celebrates a book release.Connect with Michelle ShockleeFacebook | Instagram | X | BlogWant to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

As the Office of Personnel Management makes progress toward a long-pursued goal to move the government's paper-based retirement system into the 21st century, its director said a “fully automated” process is about six months away. OPM Director Scott Kupor said in an interview with FedScoop: “That's not going to happen overnight.” But, Kupor said he believes the agency can get there within six months “for sure.” The human capital agency hit a milestone in May with the launch of its Online Retirement Application, operationalizing a yearslong development effort and marking the end of paper file submissions. Yet behind the scenes at OPM, there's still much work to do to bring about a truly automated process. Though the application submissions are now online, humans still currently check the information coming in to make sure they've been completed properly and manually key in information into a calculator in “a significant number of cases,” Kupor said. That introduces “a huge amount of delay in the system” and is something the agency is working to fix. The aim is to ultimately have a system where the retiree, human resources, and the payroll provider all submit their information online and route that package electronically — not to a person in the agency's retirement services division, but to a Digital File System that can fill in the application and do the calculations, Kupor said. Under that future process, he said, all individuals at OPM will be doing is reviewing and spot checking. The simple target of what OPM is trying to do with retirement services, Kupor said, is to go paperless “as quickly as possible.” The Department of Energy is refreshing its investment in five research centers focused on quantum information science after five years of operation. In a Tuesday announcement, DOE said it's putting up $625 million to keep all of the existing National Quantum Information Science Research Centers (QIS) going for up to five more years, matching the same investment that launched those centers in 2020. Darío Gil, DOE undersecretary for science, said in a written statement: “President Trump positioned America to lead the world in quantum science and technology and today, a new frontier of scientific discovery lies before us. Breakthroughs in QIS have the potential to revolutionize the ways we sense, communicate, and compute, sparking entirely new technologies and industries.” The centers were authorized by Congress and signed into law in 2018 during the first Trump administration as part of the National Quantum Initiative Act. Since the first January 2020 investment from DOE — which envisioned “two to five multidisciplinary Quantum Initiatives” — centers led by its Brookhaven, Argonne, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, and Fermi National Laboratories have been established. According to a DOE press release, the work of each center includes supporting science that has “disruptive potential across quantum computing, simulation, networking, and sensing,” as well as establishing “community resources, workforce opportunities, and industry partnerships.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Dr. Sean Morris of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, TN preaches on the Christology of Philippians 2:5-11 at a special Nicene Creed-centered joint evening service of several NAPARC churches at First Presbyterian (PCA) in Crossville, TN on 10/26/2025. Watch: https://youtu.be/djY9YMa8g6c?t=2339