The Scientists Ep. 3: Isaac Asimov -- Atomic Habits

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Brian Keating

Science, Physics, Natural Sciences

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Brian Keating takes us on a journey through the fascinating life and legacy of Isaac Asimov—but not as the sci-fi visionary you might expect. Instead, Brian explores Asimov the scientist: the prolific chemist, professor, and master storyteller who wrote more nonfiction science books than anyone in history. Discover how Asimov made chemistry come alive—turning even the most complex topics into vibrant, page-turning tales that inspired generations (including Brian himself!) to pursue science. From tales of the periodic table and the drama of scientific discovery to the human stories behind elements like carbon and nitrogen, Brian shares his favorite five Asimov books and explains why they still outshine almost everything else in science writing. Along the way, you’ll hear about the power of storytelling in science education, the unexpected tragedies behind groundbreaking chemical discoveries, and why Asimov’s work remains a hidden gem for anyone passionate about learning. So grab your curiosity and get ready to see why Isaac Asimov wasn’t just a legendary sci-fi writer—he was the greatest science storyteller atoms ever made. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Asimov's Essential Chemistry Books 04:53 "Impactful Chemistry Book, 1965" 08:59 Galileo's Captivating Scientific Discovery 12:08 "Simplified Communication" Podcast Strategy 16:26 Carbon: Backbone of Life's Chemistry 17:42 "Benzene Dream & Carbon's Impact" 22:26 Pursuer of Clarity in Education - Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw/join 📚 Get a copy of my books: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner, with life changing interviews with 9 Nobel Prizewinners: https://a.co/d/03ezQFu My tell-all cosmic memoir Losing the Nobel Prize: http://amzn.to/2sa5UpA The first-ever audiobook from Galileo: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems: Ptolemaic and Copernican https://a.co/d/iZPi9Un 📺 Watch my most popular videos:📺 Neil Turok https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5cFLN65fI Frank Wilczek https://youtu.be/3z8RqKMQHe0?sub_confirmation=1 Eric Weinstein vs. Stephen Wolfram https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0AZ4Y4Ip4?sub_confirmation=1 Sir Roger Penrose: https://youtu.be/AMuqyAvX7Wo Sabine Hossenfelder: https://youtu.be/g00ilS6tBvs Avi Loeb: https://youtu.be/N9lUceHsLRw Follow me to ask questions of my guests: 🏄‍♂️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 Subscribe https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list; just click here http://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog 🎙️ Listen on audio-only platforms: https://briankeating.com/podcast #universe #podcast #briankeating #intotheimpossible #science #astronomy #cosmology #cosmicmicrowavebackground #intotheimpossible #briankeating #richardfeynman #manhattanproject #atomicbomb #losalamos #physics #teaching #curiosity #legacy #science Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey Harry.
0:00.7	Hello mate.
0:01.5	Got any tips for the football?
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0:13.2	It's a good darn deal that'll make your squirrel for real.
0:16.3	Neil?
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0:30.8	Every runner knows the moment when everything clicks.
0:34.1	When your legs lock into a rhythm, the aches float away and doubts fade, replaced by a feeling
0:40.3	of euphoria.
0:42.3	It's why you lace up at dawn, why little rain doesn't stop you, why one run turns into a habit.
0:50.3	So next time you go for a run, chase that runs high.
0:55.0	Learn more about running and go wild at puma.com. Today we're talking about a man who wrote so much so often that when he died, they actually found unfinished essays on his desk.
1:23.3	It's Isaac Asimov. And not the sci-fi Asimov, not the foundation, not the I-Robot, not even the essays on AI.
1:32.3	We're talking about the science fact.
1:36.3	Science, non-fiction Asimov, the chemist.
1:39.3	The professor, the man who made the periodic table sing,
	...

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