The Scientists Ep. 6: The Life of Hedy Lamarr

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This episode, hosted by Brian Keating—Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego—delves into one of the most fascinating and underappreciated stories at the intersection of beauty, brilliance, and invention. Today, we step away from pure physics and astronomy to explore the remarkable life of Hedy Lamarr, an iconic Hollywood actress whose real genius lay not just on the silver screen, but at the heart of technological innovation.

Listen in as Brian Keating brings to life the legacy of a woman who changed the world—not for fame, but for the sheer joy of invention and enduring curiosity.

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Key Takeaways:

00:00 Hedy Lamarr: Star and Inventor

03:30 Dual Facade: Performance and Analysis

09:04 Espionage and Escape Plan

10:35 Hedy Lamarr's Hollywood Transformation

13:59 Frequency Hopping Communication Technique

16:35 Hedy Lamarr's Overlooked Invention

22:43 Genius: Curiosity Over Credentials

24:01 "Hedy Lamarr: Beyond Hollywood"

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The Scientists is a documentary-style podcast series hosted by astrophysicist Brian Keating. Each episode explores the untold stories behind history’s greatest minds—from Nobel laureates to visionary misfits—revealing the personal struggles, intellectual triumphs, and paradigm-shifting ideas that changed the world. Each week, I dive into the life and legacy of a legendary scientist—experimentalists, theorists, and observers alike—and uncover insights you can apply to your own work and worldview. Science didn’t appear fully formed; it was built by real people solving real problems under pressure. Their ideas still shape our future. We’ll examine not just what they discovered, but who they were—from their obsessions and honors to their most spectacular ideas, brilliant blunders, and beautifully human flaws.

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Learn more at BrianKeating.com.

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