New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

Rachel Midura, a historian specializing in early modern communication, dives into the revolutionary impact of postal systems in Europe. She spotlights the Tassis family, who played crucial roles as postmasters under various rulers. Midura reveals how the post transformed diplomacy and public discourse, intertwining state and private communication. She discusses the challenges of maintaining reliable postal networks, espionage risks faced by messengers, and the evolution of postal services as a form of social media in the early modern era.

In this engaging discussion, anthropologist Alexa Hagerty shares insights from her book about the haunting realities of forensic anthropology in contexts of genocide. She unwraps how bones can reveal identities and stories, intertwining the lives lost with forensic analyses of trauma. Hagerty also emphasizes the importance of community-driven investigations and critiques traditional narratives of closure in the face of grief. Through her experiences in Argentina and Guatemala, she illustrates how exhumation acts as both a ritual and a path toward healing for families affected by violence.

Aaron Bateman, Assistant Professor at George Washington University, delves into the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), sparked by Reagan’s 1983 announcement. He discusses how SDI reshaped space militarization post-Cold War, revealing its secretive role in US defense strategy. Bateman argues that SDI’s controversy stemmed more from its political implications than technical challenges. He also connects SDI's legacy to today's space arms control issues and reflects on current projects, including insights gained from archival research.

Florentine Koppenborg, a political scientist specializing in nuclear safety governance, discusses Japan's regulatory reforms post-Fukushima. She details how the disaster revealed significant flaws in safety governance and led to the establishment of an independent regulator that challenges political influence. Koppenborg explores local protests, the 'nuclear village' mentality, and the NRA's newly gained powers and transparency. She also raises concerns about the potential conflicts between safety regulations and decarbonization goals, offering insights into future nuclear phase-outs.

David Z. Morris, a journalist and author specializing in finance and technology, unravels the story behind Sam Bankman-Fried's $11 billion fraud. He discusses how ideas like effective altruism and techno-utopianism fueled such monumental deception. Morris highlights connections between rationalist culture and financial nihilism, warns of red flags in future frauds, and critiques the male dominance in these circles. With insights into AI and gambling culture, he sheds light on how to recognize the next wave of tech fraudsters.

Dagmar Schäfer, a historian of technology and sinologist, joins Annapurna Mamidipudi, an engineer-turned-researcher, and Marius Buning, an assistant professor specializing in intellectual property history. They explore the concept of knowledge ownership beyond traditional frameworks, emphasizing technology's role in shaping this discourse. The conversation dives into how historical practices in China influenced craft knowledge, the implications of performance in ownership, and the inequalities created by current knowledge economies. They also share insights on the power of scholarship in legitimizing knowledge.

In this engaging discussion, Henry Grabar, a Slate staff writer and author of "Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World," delves into the complex issues surrounding parking in America. He reveals how our obsession with parking drives urban design, distorts real estate, and even impacts environmental challenges like heat islands. Grabar discusses the irony of perceived parking scarcity, the historical panic that led to strict parking minimums, and the promising reforms seen in cities like Los Angeles. His insights prompt us to rethink how we allocate space and resources.

Past human space missions were protected by Earth’s magnetic field and a measure of luck, but future missions beyond the Earth–Moon system will face far greater and longer-lasting radiation risks that cannot be managed by route planning alone. The authors argue that safe deep-space exploration will require major advances in understanding radiation, developing effective shielding, and mitigating both acute and long-term health effects, rather than relying on chance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Barcodes are about as ordinary as an object can be. Billions of them are scanned each day and they impact everything from how we shop to how we travel to how the global economy is managed. But few people likely give them more than a second thought. In a way, the barcode's ordinariness is the ultimate symbol of its success.However, behind the mundanity of the barcode lies an important history. Barcodes bridged the gap between physical objects and digital databases and paved the way for the contemporary Internet of Things, the idea to connect all devices to the web. They were highly controversial at points, protested by consumer groups and labor unions, and used as a symbol of dystopian capitalism and surveillance in science fiction and art installations.Jordan Frith's book Barcode (Bloomsbury, 2023) tells the story of the barcode's complicated history and examines how an object so crucial to so many parts of our lives became more ignored and more ordinary as it spread throughout the world.This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose forthcoming book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Jeremy Black, Professor emeritus of history and military historian, dives into his book A History of Artillery. He explores the evolution of artillery from ancient catapults to its decisive roles in conflicts like WWI and WWII. Black argues against simplistic explanations, emphasizing the complex interplay of technology and tactics. He highlights how artillery has shaped battle outcomes, especially in the Cold War and recent conflicts such as in Ukraine. Black's insights illuminate the weapon's ongoing significance in military strategy.