Jennifer Vail is a cultural historian whose research explores material culture, technology, and the social meanings of everyday objects. She is the author of *Friction: A Biography*, published by Harvard University Press in 2026, which examines the concept and mechanics of friction across history, science, and society to reveal how this physical force has shaped human experience and technological development. Vail’s work draws on interdisciplinary methods from history of science, cultural studies, and design to connect physical phenomena with broader cultural and historical contexts. In addition to her book, she contributes to academic scholarship through articles, lectures, and research that consider the interaction between material processes and cultural interpretation. Her work continues to engage teaching and research at the intersection of science, culture, and history.