1651: "The NERVA Program"

1651: "The NERVA Program"

Author: JC May 13, 2026 Duration: 2:56
Interesting Things with JC #1651: "The NERVA Program" – A rocket engine fires in the Nevada desert without burning fuel the normal way, and a uranium reactor heats liquid hydrogen until it blasts through the nozzle; the tests work, the engine restarts, but the Mars rocket never leaves Earth.

You're about to hear stories that often slip through the cracks of mainstream conversation. Interesting Things with JC is a compact series where host JC digs into the past and present, finding connections and narratives that are frequently overlooked. Each episode feels like a focused exploration, whether it's a curious historical footnote, a fresh perspective on a current event, or a cultural phenomenon that deserves a closer look. The tone is conversational and inquisitive, driven by a genuine fascination with the subject matter rather than a dry lecture. This podcast sits comfortably at the intersection of history, culture, and society, making complex topics accessible without oversimplifying them. You'll find yourself reconsidering what you thought you knew, as JC guides you through these meticulously researched tales. It’s for anyone with a lingering curiosity about how the world works and where its many strange, compelling stories originate. The result is a consistently engaging listen that proves the most interesting things are often hidden in plain sight, just waiting for someone to point them out. Tune in for a thoughtful break from the noise, filled with substance and unexpected details.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Interesting Things with JC
Podcast Episodes
1666: "A Billion Seconds" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03
Interesting Things with JC #1666: "A Billion Seconds" - A million seconds goes by pretty fast. A billion seconds is something else entirely. Once you truly understand the difference, it changes the way you look at time,…
1665: "Grizz Chapman" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:33
Interesting Things with JC #1665: "Grizz Chapman" – Grizz was working security when a friendship with Tracy Morgan led to a 30 Rock audition, and the nearly seven-foot bouncer became one of the calmest, warmest faces on…
1664: "Rob Base" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:10
Interesting Things with JC #1664: "Rob Base" – Rob Base passed away four days after his 59th birthday, but the 1988 record he made with DJ E-Z Rock still moves crowds nearly four decades later; “It Takes Two” climbed the…
1663: "Kyle Busch" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:56
Interesting Things with JC #1663: "Kyle Busch" – Kyle Busch is steering a go-kart while his father works the throttle because his feet cannot reach the pedals, and the Las Vegas kid who built racetracks from crushed soda…
1662: "Ames Laboratory" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:23
Interesting Things with JC #1662: "Ames Laboratory" – Frank Spedding’s team in Ames, Iowa turned rare uranium metal into wartime production material, using the Ames Process to supply purified uranium for the Manhattan Pr…
1661: "The Earth's Core is Younger than its Surface" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:35
Interesting Things with JC #1661: "The Earth's Core is Younger than its Surface" – A clock at Earth’s core runs slightly slower than a clock on the surface, and over 4.5 billion years that tiny relativity effect leaves t…
1660: "The Adams Event" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:45
Interesting Things with JC #1660: "The Adams Event" – A 42,000-year-old kauri tree held a carbon record from the Laschamps Excursion, when Earth’s magnetic field weakened, cosmic rays increased, and the upper atmosphere…
1659: "Overmodulating the Carrier" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:59
Interesting Things with JC #1659: "Overmodulating the Carrier" – WMEX engineers pushed AM modulation to the edge so the station sounded louder and denser than nearby signals, with audio processing that helped 1510 punch…
1658: "HAVOC: The Airship of Venus" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:26
Interesting Things with JC #1658: "HAVOC: The Airship of Venus" – NASA engineers studied a crewed airship that would float above Venus instead of landing on its deadly surface, because the planet’s upper atmosphere becom…
1657: "The Stonefly of British Columbia" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:42
Interesting Things with JC #1657: "The Stonefly of British Columbia" – Stonefly nymphs cling to rocks in cold British Columbia rivers while scientists check whether the water can still support life; when the insects disa…