For years map-makers stood tip-toe on tall peaks to survey the world. Then came the airplane, giving cartographers a bird's eye view. Now satellites in space have such high resolution that they can distinguish a rock from a shrub. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the mapping revolution: how new technology is changing the way we see our world. Also, a cosmic cartographer maps the universe.
Margaret Geller teaches astronomy at Harvard and does research at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. She tells Steve Paulson why she's working on mapping the universe, charting patterns in the largest forms in nature; and that measuring space on the cosmic scale also reveals information about the past. Also, John Radke, who teaches geographical information science at Berkeley University, tells Jim Fleming about some of the new mapping technologies made possible by satellites and computers.SEGMENT 2:
Mark Warhus is the author of Another America: Native American Maps and the History of Our Land. He tells Judith Strasser that Native maps are pictures of experiences and include elements of myth, spirituality and history. Also, Karl Schmidt reads an excerpt from anthropologist Hugh Brody's book "Maps and Dreams." This segment is part of "The Storied Land," a special project of TTBOOK funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.SEGMENT 3:
Paul Starrs tells Steve Paulson about mapping the electrical landscape of cyberspace. Starrs teaches cultural geography at the University of Nevada, edits the Geographical Review and is the author of Let the Cowboy Ride: Cattle Ranching in the American West.Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 98-03-22-B.
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