Short Wave

The Queen of Nuclear Physics (Part Two): Forming Chien-Shiung Wu's Story

May 23, 2022

Jada Yuan, a reporter at the Washington Post and granddaughter of the famed physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, dives deep into her grandmother's incredible journey through nuclear physics. Jada reveals how she uncovered Wu's groundbreaking discoveries and their profound impact on science and women's representation in the field. She shares moving insights from her trip to China for a centennial celebration, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Asian American legacies. The conversation intertwines personal stories with Wu's lasting influence on future generations.

14:31

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Episode guests

Jada Yuan

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Unveiling a Legacy: A Granddaughter's Journey into Her Grandmother's Achievements

2min

Legacy of a Nuclear Physics Pioneer

2min

The Journey of Chien-Shiung Wu: A Pioneer in Physics

7min

Reflections on Family and Legacy

3min

Growing up, Jada Yuan didn't realize how famous her grandmother was in the world of physics. In this episode, Jada talks to Emily about the life of physicist Chien-Shiung Wu, whom Jada got to know much better while writing the article Discovering Dr. Wu for the Washington Post, where she is a reporter covering culture and politics.

Check out part one in which Emily talks to Short Wave's scientist-in-residence about how Chien-Shiung Wu altered physics. She made a landmark discovery in 1956 about how our universe operates at the tiniest levels.

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