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THE SCIENCE OF DISCOVERY
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
The pursuit of knowledge can make you do weird things.
Sir Isaac Newton explored his eye-socket with a wooden stick. Swedish
chemist Karl Scheele was undone by the toxic chemicals he insisted
on tasting. And a German scientist named Becher spent years trying
to make gold from his own urine, only to discover phosphorous. In
this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the science of
discovery. Also, the lost links between mathematics and art. And,
the Ig-Nobel Prize, a tour of some of the world's silliest science.
SEGMENT 1:
Travel writer Bill Bryson ("A Walk in
the Woods," "In A Sunburned Country") has turned
his attention to science. His new book is "A Short History
of Nearly Everything." Bryson talks with Jim Fleming about
the personal stories of some of the people who made great scientific
discoveries.
SEGMENT 2:
Chemist Carl Djerassi has written many scientific
books and papers. He's also published poetry, fiction and a play,
"Oxygen," which he co-wrote with Roald Hoffman. The
play was performed by students at the University of Wisconsin,
with a little help from the playwright. Carl Djerassi talks with
Steve Paulson about the play and why it's so important to scientists
to get there first, and we hear excerpts from the play. Also,
Jim Fleming talks with Marc Abrahams, founder of the Ig-Nobel
Prizes. Abrahams says who this years winners are and that the
purpose of the awards is to make people laugh, and then think.
His website is http://www.improbable.com
SEGMENT 3:
Joao Magueijo has been stirring things up
in Physics with his book, "Faster Than the Speed of Light."
He posits that the speed of light can vary. The idea contradicts
Einstein but explains some paradoxes and anomalies in the universe.
Magueijo tells Steve Paulson about the response to his idea. Also,
Robert and Ellen Kaplan founded The Math Circle, a school
open to anyone of any age, that teaches enjoyment of mathematics.
The Kaplans' new book is "The Art of the Infinite."
They talk about it with Jim Fleming.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 03-06-22-A.
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Books:
- Bill Bryson, *A Short History of Nearly
Everything (Broadway)
- Robert Kaplan & Ellen Kaplan, The Art
of the Infinite: the Pleasures of Mathematics (Oxford)
- Joao Magueijo, Faster than the Speed of
Light: the story of a scientific speculation (Perseus)
Music:
- -- You, the Human Animal/ The Music of Disney -
A Legacy in Song CD3/ Walt Disney Records
-- Ziggy Stardust/ The Moog Cookbook Plays the Classic Rock Hits/
Restles
-- Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals/ Dave Harris/ Incredibliy
Strange Music - Volume 1/ Caroline
-- Victory/ Bond/ Born/ Decca
-- Three the Magic Number/ Blind Melon/ School House Rock Rocks
-- String Quartet No. 9/ Beehoven - Julliard String Quartet/ The
Complete String Quartets Volume 2/ CBS
Distribution dates:
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Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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