Today @JaimiDowdell is back on the Science History Podcast discuss how a federal agency responsible for community health assessments has a history of failing to protect the communities that seek its aid.

A fundamental complaint by the right, that elite universities are bastions of the left and lack diversity of thought, warrants an examination. Today I explore this topic with my brother @BillvonHippel.

Thanks to @strong_sistas for an engaging interview on pesticides and health:

Prior to the rise of Nazism, the University of Göttingen hosted most of the top physicists in the world, either as resident or visiting scientists. With us to discuss the history of physics in Göttingen are Tim Salditt, Kurt Schönhammer, and Sarah Köster.

Science history is punctuated by technological innovations that produce a paradigm shift. One such innovation that generated diverse discoveries is PCR. With us to discuss the history of PCR is one of its innovators, Henry Erlich.

Lise Meitner was the most important female physicist of the 20th century. She made fundamental discoveries on the atom, including being the first to discover the idea of fission. With us to discuss the life and legacy of Lise Meitner is @marissawriter.

Humanity's understanding of the universe radically altered with the advent of quantum mechanics in the early 20th century. With us to discuss the development of quantum mechanics is @JimBaggott.

The Chemical Age just came out in Japanese, adding to the previous languages of English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese.

Societal problems big and small typically have a scientific element, yet most scientists are not directly involved in policy. My guests sought to change that in 1969 when they created the Stanford Workshops on Social and Political Issues, or SWOPSI.

Thanks to Bret Stephens for a great conversation about the state of American universities:

Just in time for Columbus Day, Spanish researchers revealed genetic evidence that Columbus had some Jewish heritage. See excellent synopsis by @pjgrisar in today's @jdforward, which closely relates to our new episode on Hebrew:

Why did Christopher Columbus have a Hebrew speaker on his voyages? Why did American universities founded before the Revolution have Hebrew in their curriculum? How did the arts help to shape the relationship between the US and Israel?

Why is Jerusalem where it is? What do we know about the Jerusalem of Biblical times? Why is its water source so important? Join my conversation with Jodi Magness about Jerusalem archeology:

Today I speak with @sfetter about his work on nuclear disarmament, including the Black Sea Experiment, nuclear archeology, ballistic missile defense, the weaponization of space, and nuclear energy.

Learn about smuggling depleted uranium and other adventures in nuclear disarmament with my guest Tom Cochran:

Thanks to @markygags for an engaging conversation on his show @CampGagnon:.

Here is my review of Churchill's The River War, now out in its original two volume set edited by James Muller:

Today we explore the history of the field of endocrine disruption with Patricia Hunt. Pat is a Regents Professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University.

Thanks to @markygags for inviting my daughter and me to his show with @andrewschulz where we got to meet people like @SugaSeanMMA! I love talking with people from all fields of work about science.

Perhaps the most overlooked scientist who played critical roles in the development of the atomic bomb was Leo Szilard. With us to explore Szilard's numerous contributions to science and society is William Lanouette.