Rank #154 in Government category
Government
Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast
Updated 6 days ago
Rank #154 in Government category
Government
Direct Current is a podcast about energy -- the kind that lights our homes, powers our lives and shapes our world. From the U.S. Department of Energy’s digital team in Washington, D.C., Direct Current brings you fresh, insightful stories of how we generate and use electricity, what that means for the planet and the cutting-edge science that’s driving a global energy revolution.
Direct Current is a podcast about energy -- the kind that lights our homes, powers our lives and shapes our world. From the U.S. Department of Energy’s digital team in Washington, D.C., Direct Current brings you fresh, insightful stories of how we generate and use electricity, what that means for the planet and the cutting-edge science that’s driving a global energy revolution.
iTunes Ratings
87 Ratingsall
By Beaver Pond Ben - Mar 01 2018Not what you might expect!
Great info!
By justLuckey1 - Jul 27 2017Great content, great hosts, my new favorite podcast!
iTunes Ratings
87 Ratingsall
By Beaver Pond Ben - Mar 01 2018Not what you might expect!
Great info!
By justLuckey1 - Jul 27 2017Great content, great hosts, my new favorite podcast!
Listen to:
Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast
Updated 6 days ago
Direct Current is a podcast about energy -- the kind that lights our homes, powers our lives and shapes our world. From the U.S. Department of Energy’s digital team in Washington, D.C., Direct Current brings you fresh, insightful stories of how we generate and use electricity, what that means for the planet and the cutting-edge science that’s driving a global energy revolution.
S2 E2: The Manhattan Project, Part 1
The first of two episodes that tell the story of an unprecedented, U.S. government effort to beat Nazi Germany in the race to construct a nuclear weapon. Find out how the atomic age began, what happened in three top-secret towns, and how the Department of Energy and the National Park Service teamed up to preserve the legacy of this pivotal moment in history.
May 18 2017
34mins
Play
Episode 1.5: Direct Current Teaser
A word of thanks, and a sneak preview of what’s coming up on future episodes of Direct Current.
Jun 25 2016
3mins
Play
S2 E3: The Manhattan Project, Part 2
The conclusion of our two part story on the Manhattan Project. We take you to the Trinity site where the first bomb was tested and then follow the Airmen as they drop the first ever atomic bombs. Later, learn about the creation of the Department of Energy and how, along with the National Park Service, we're preserving the origins of nuclear power and weaponry.
Learn more about the Manhattan Project at energy.gov/manhattanproject.
Learn more about the Manhattan Project at energy.gov/manhattanproject.
Jun 21 2017
35mins
Play
Episode 5: The Future of Cool
On this episode of Direct Current, we're taking you to the future of cooling, where new technologies like magnet-based air conditioning and personalized robots will transform how we fight climate change, save on energy costs and stay comfortable.
Sep 14 2016
29mins
Play
Episode 3: Power To The People
How does power get to the people who use it? In this episode we talk about one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of the 20th century -- something we use every day, but often take for granted: the electric grid.
We talk to an expert about how power travels to our electric sockets, and hear about how one city -- hit with major power outages during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 -- is preparing for the next storm with something called a microgrid.
You can find lots more information, graphics and videos related to this episode on our blog: http://energy.gov/direct-current-episode-3-power-people
We talk to an expert about how power travels to our electric sockets, and hear about how one city -- hit with major power outages during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 -- is preparing for the next storm with something called a microgrid.
You can find lots more information, graphics and videos related to this episode on our blog: http://energy.gov/direct-current-episode-3-power-people
Jul 11 2016
19mins
Play
Episode 7: From Water to Wattage
Hydropower is America's oldest and largest source of clean, renewable energy. But can it grow to meet our changing needs? Follow our hosts on a journey from hydropower's origins to the new wave of technologies that could shape its future.
Nov 03 2016
33mins
Play
Episode 9: What Happened to Acid Rain?
Acid rain was one of the biggest environmental problems of the 20th century. We investigate why it’s a thing of the past -- and what it can teach us for tackling climate change.
Jan 05 2017
23mins
Play
SHORT CIRCUIT | How to Soak Up an Oil Spill
It's been seven years since the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Could a sponge developed by Argonne National Lab help stop the next big oil spill from becoming a catastrophe?
Apr 20 2017
12mins
Play
SHORT CIRCUIT | Ruth's Story
Ruth Huddleston was 18 years old when she took a job at a top secret Army facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at the height of World War II. Her task was so highly classified that no one could even tell her what she was working on -- until one fateful day in August 1945. We have her story.
Jun 05 2017
14mins
Play
Episode 6: Energy Ghostbusters
Spooked by the ghosts and goblins of energy inefficiency? In this special episode, we talk with Josh Olsen, an “Energy Ghostbuster" from our Weatherization Assistance Program. He provides tips on how to keep from being haunted by your energy bill and trick-or-treat yourself to energy savings. Happy Halloween!
Oct 20 2016
12mins
Play
Episode 4: Backronyms
Not all acronyms are created equal. Join us on a journey into the colorful world of government "backronyms," where there's more to a name than just a jumble of letters.
Aug 10 2016
21mins
Play
Episode 8: Ho-Ho-How Holiday Lights Work
Why do holiday lights burn out all the time? We find out the answer, and do it in rhyme.
Dec 01 2016
5mins
Play
This Lab Is Your Lab
We have a holiday treat for you. As we head into July 4, enjoy "This Lab Is Your Lab." A song meant to highlight some of the amazing work being done across the Energy Department's system of 17 National Labs, the crown jewels of science in the United States.The National Labs tackle the critical scientific challenges of our time and possess unique instruments and facilities, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Each lab is unique, but they're all connected, and the work they do benefits all Americans.HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!Performance by Matt Schaub | Lyrics by Simon Edelman and Amy Phillips Bursch
Jun 30 2017
2mins
Play
Episode 10: The Exit Interview
With the current presidential administration coming to a close, we asked a very special guest to share some thoughts on his time here at the Energy Department. It’s our boss, nuclear physicist and Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz.
Jan 17 2017
24mins
Play
S3 E4: This Episode Stinks
Grease. Gunk. Sludge. Where most people see a nasty nuisance, these scientists see powerful potential. Join us as we wade into the world of bioenergy and learn about the folks working to turn waste into useful energy!
Nov 21 2018
35mins
Play
AI: This Is Just the Beginning
Artificial intelligence is all over the news, but what's all the hype really about? We travel to Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee to find out how AI is going to revolutionize science and energy, and welcome a new podcast to the Department of Energy family! When it comes to AI, this is just the beginning.
Subscribe to "The Sound of Science" for amazing stories from the cutting-edge research inside Oak Ridge. www.ornl.gov
Subscribe to "The Sound of Science" for amazing stories from the cutting-edge research inside Oak Ridge. www.ornl.gov
Oct 09 2019
22mins
Play
S3 E8: KRUSTY in Spaaace!
50 years after Apollo 11 made history, NASA is getting ready to send astronauts back to the Moon. After that, Mars is next up. We're going to need a power supply that can keep humans alive in space for years at a time — but it's got to be small, light, and tough as nails. Could a miniature nuclear reactor be the answer? This is a story about perseverance, teamwork, and faith in an idea against all odds. Don't be fooled by the name — these folks aren't clowning around.
Jul 16 2019
23mins
Play
S3 E7: DUNE: The Neutrinos Must Flow
Here's a question. Why does anything exist? The key to this age-old mystery could lie with neutrinos, elusive particles that flow all around us and (through us) by the trillions. Join Direct Current on a subatomic sojourn into the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a massive international research project aiming to unlock the secrets of the neutrino with help from more than 175 institutions in over 30 countries. We'll take you from Fermilab to the home of the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland to the bottom of a former gold mine a mile beneath the hills of South Dakota as we explore one of the most ambitious particle physics projects of our lifetime.
May 07 2019
44mins
Play
S3 E6: Women in Power: The C3E Story
Meet the women who are leading a clean energy revolution, with a little help from C3E. It's part support network, part annual gathering, part awards show — and all about empowerment.
Mar 20 2019
25mins
Play
S3 E5: Microbiomes! Live at AAAS
There's an invisible world of microbes living all around us — on our skin, in our guts, even in the ground beneath our feet — and we're only just beginning to understand their function. In this episode, recorded live at the 2019 American Association for Advancement of Sciences (AAAS) Meeting in D.C., we interview two scientists who are using genetic data to study the "microbiome" of soil. Turns out, these tiny organisms can help us answer big questions about agriculture, energy, climate, and much more.
Mar 01 2019
26mins
Play
S3 E4: This Episode Stinks
Grease. Gunk. Sludge. Where most people see a nasty nuisance, these scientists see powerful potential. Join us as we wade into the world of bioenergy and learn about the folks working to turn waste into useful energy!
Nov 21 2018
35mins
Play
S3 E3: Nuclear Energy: Fact, Fiction, Future
D'oh! Nuclear energy gets a bad rap on "The Simpsons". But don't believe everything you see on TV — there's a lot more to the story of our most misunderstood energy source. In this episode of Direct Current, we separate nuclear fact from fiction and explore how splitting atoms could play a big role in America's clean energy future.
Learn more at energy.gov/podcast.
Learn more at energy.gov/podcast.
Sep 13 2018
38mins
Play
S3 E2: Makers
This episode of Direct Current is dedicated to the makers at the Energy Department — the engineers, researchers and artisans whose creations are pushing science and technology to exciting new places. Check out photos, video and more from this episode at energy.gov/podcast.
Jul 31 2018
28mins
Play
S3 E1: Sitting Down with Secretary Perry
You know Rick Perry as the current Secretary of Energy and former Texas governor, but did you know he once played drums with ZZ Top? Hear from Perry himself in the season 3 premiere of Direct Current as he sits down with our hosts to discuss everything from supercomputers to "Dancing with the Stars."
Also, we bid a fond farewell to one of our show's original producers.
[Editor's Note: This interview was recorded shortly before the unveiling of the Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which as of June 2018 claimed the title of fastest supercomputer in the world.]
Also, we bid a fond farewell to one of our show's original producers.
[Editor's Note: This interview was recorded shortly before the unveiling of the Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which as of June 2018 claimed the title of fastest supercomputer in the world.]
Jun 20 2018
23mins
Play
S2 E9: Power Couple
A pair of energy detectives is hunting down waste and saving money at two big U.S. manufacturing companies. Hear their story, and learn how our Better Plants program is helping partners across the nation find similar success.
Feb 05 2018
18mins
Play
S2 E8: Holiday Lights, Redux
We're keeping the season merry and bright with a show about data and holiday lights!
Ever thought about how big a role data centers play in your life? From searching to streaming to shopping, these critical pieces of infrastructure provide the foundation for our digital world -- and they need an upgrade. Learn how an ARPA-E program is using light-powered technology to boost data center performance and energy efficiency for the future.
Also, we revisit our favorite energy-themed holiday poem from season 1! As always, you can find all our episodes at https://energy.gov/podcast.
Ever thought about how big a role data centers play in your life? From searching to streaming to shopping, these critical pieces of infrastructure provide the foundation for our digital world -- and they need an upgrade. Learn how an ARPA-E program is using light-powered technology to boost data center performance and energy efficiency for the future.
Also, we revisit our favorite energy-themed holiday poem from season 1! As always, you can find all our episodes at https://energy.gov/podcast.
Dec 19 2017
15mins
Play
SHORT CIRCUIT | History of the Light Bulb
We devote this Short Circuit to one of the most ubiquitous items in the world, an item you can probably see from wherever you’re listening… the light bulb. The story of how the light bulb came to light is a fascinating one that we think even a child could understand. The History of The Light Bulb is an illuminating tale of a mother, child and some particularly enlightened bulbs.
Nov 14 2017
7mins
Play
S2 E7: Energy Secrets
Last year, Netflix's sci-fi hit "Stranger Things" called us out on being... well... a secretive agency. We set the record straight back then, but with season 2 coming out, there's more to the story.
So, prepare yourself: from the real science behind the Upside Down to the mysterious death of a U.S. president, Direct Current is pulling back the curtain on some of our deepest, darkest #EnergySecrets.
So, prepare yourself: from the real science behind the Upside Down to the mysterious death of a U.S. president, Direct Current is pulling back the curtain on some of our deepest, darkest #EnergySecrets.
Oct 27 2017
26mins
Play
SHORT CIRCUIT | Energy @ 40
The U.S. Department of Energy is 40 years old, and Direct Current is celebrating with a look back at four decades of #ScienceForThePeople. Join us as we talk to the Department's longest-serving employee (53 years!), revisit the agency's origins, and look to the future with the help of our official historians.
Oct 04 2017
17mins
Play
S2 E6: A Shot in the Dark
Earth, the cosmos, everything we can see with our eyes and our instruments is made up of normal matter. But all that doesn’t add up to a whole lot. It's just 15% of the mass of the universe.
The rest is an unknown, invisible… something… This mysterious substance lives under the alias of DARK MATTER.
It’s one of the most staggering scientific puzzles in the history of human knowledge. A mystery that goes back to the very birth of our universe. Luckily, our detective-producers are on the case.
Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast proudly presents… A Shot in the Dark: The Case of the Missing Matter.
The rest is an unknown, invisible… something… This mysterious substance lives under the alias of DARK MATTER.
It’s one of the most staggering scientific puzzles in the history of human knowledge. A mystery that goes back to the very birth of our universe. Luckily, our detective-producers are on the case.
Direct Current - An Energy.gov Podcast proudly presents… A Shot in the Dark: The Case of the Missing Matter.
Sep 13 2017
26mins
Play
SHORT CIRCUIT | Solar, Meet Eclipse
Solar power is booming in the U.S. So what happens when the sun disappears during the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017? We talk to the energy experts.
Aug 17 2017
9mins
Play
S2 E5: Hyper Drive Time
And now, for something completely different… Take a drive with Direct Current as we mash up three slightly off-kilter energy stories. It might get weird, but it won’t be boring. It’s Hyper Drive Time!
Aug 09 2017
19mins
Play
S2 E4: 17 Labs in 17 Minutes
The Department of Energy’s National Labs are the crown jewels of science in America. But their work is so diverse, and the challenges they tackle so far-reaching, that it’s hard to talk about all 17 of them -- there’s just too much to cover in one episode.
Or is there?
This episode takes on that challenge. Buckle up for a journey through all 17 National Labs… in 17 minutes.
Learn more at energy.gov/labs.
Or is there?
This episode takes on that challenge. Buckle up for a journey through all 17 National Labs… in 17 minutes.
Learn more at energy.gov/labs.
Jul 24 2017
22mins
Play
This Lab Is Your Lab
We have a holiday treat for you. As we head into July 4, enjoy "This Lab Is Your Lab." A song meant to highlight some of the amazing work being done across the Energy Department's system of 17 National Labs, the crown jewels of science in the United States.The National Labs tackle the critical scientific challenges of our time and possess unique instruments and facilities, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Each lab is unique, but they're all connected, and the work they do benefits all Americans.HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!Performance by Matt Schaub | Lyrics by Simon Edelman and Amy Phillips Bursch
Jun 30 2017
2mins
Play
S2 E3: The Manhattan Project, Part 2
The conclusion of our two part story on the Manhattan Project. We take you to the Trinity site where the first bomb was tested and then follow the Airmen as they drop the first ever atomic bombs. Later, learn about the creation of the Department of Energy and how, along with the National Park Service, we're preserving the origins of nuclear power and weaponry.
Learn more about the Manhattan Project at energy.gov/manhattanproject.
Learn more about the Manhattan Project at energy.gov/manhattanproject.
Jun 21 2017
35mins
Play