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Launching into History

Launching into History

By: Alan Hanstein
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About this listen

 A monthly discussion covering topics at the juxtaposition of science and history. Presented by the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee. Curated by Center Director Alan Hanstein. Created using AI tools.Alan Hanstein
Episodes
  • Ada Lovelace: Programming the Future

    Ada Lovelace: Programming the Future
    Feb 13 2026

    Long before the first computer existed, Ada Lovelace imagined what one could do. In this episode of Launching into History, we explore how the daughter of a poet and a mathematician became the world’s first programmer. Working alongside Charles Babbage, she saw the potential of machines beyond math—envisioning music, language, and logic in code. Discover the 19th-century mind that foresaw the digital age.
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    12 mins
  • Project Azorian: Submarine, Secrecy, and Subterfuge

    Project Azorian: Submarine, Secrecy, and Subterfuge
    Jun 5 2025

    In this episode of Launching into History, we uncover the astonishing true story of Project Azorian—a secret CIA operation that built a fake mining ship, spent hundreds of millions, and tried to recover a Soviet submarine from the ocean floor. It’s a tale of deception, engineering wizardry, and the origins of a now-famous phrase: “We can neither confirm nor deny.” If you think you know Cold War history—think again!
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    20 mins
  • The Ghost Army of WW II: The Phantom Front

    The Ghost Army of WW II: The Phantom Front
    May 2 2025

    In one of the strangest chapters of World War II, the U.S. military enlisted artists, sound engineers, and illusionists to wage a war of deception. This is the story of the Ghost Army—a secret unit that used inflatable tanks, fake radio chatter, and soundscapes of battle to fool the Nazis and save thousands of lives. Discover how creativity became a weapon, and why this unit remained classified for over 50 years.
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    12 mins
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