- This American Life The episode contains a story about Ron Mallett's life goal of creating a time machine. A list of documentaries Mallett has been featured in Ron Mallett Penn State African American Chronicles profile and interview Publications @ Astrophysics Data System 1945 births African-American scientists American physicists Living people Pennsylvania State University alumni People from Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania American relativity theorists Time travel United States Air Force airmen University of Connecticut faculty Members of the National Society of Black Physicists 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American people African-American physicists