What science needs is — an audience. That's why physicist Clint Sprott takes his show on the road — to Epcot Center and, soon, to your radio dial. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the Wonders of Physics. Also Pattiann Rogers reads science poetry and number stories from mathematician John Allen Paulos.

Mathematician John Allen Paulos says stories are more difficult to understand than numbers and gives some examples of how language brings confusion to math. Paulos is the best-selling author of "Innumeracy" and "A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper." His new book is "Once Upon a Number: The Hidden Mathematical Logic of Stories." Also, physicist Clint Sprott brings a condensed version of his stage show "The Wonders of Physics" into the studio to amaze Jim Fleming, and wreak havoc with his radio voice.

Poet Kurt Brown edited an anthology, "Verse and Universe" of poems that deal with science. Judith Strasser talks with him about bridging the gap between science and literature. Also, poet Pattiann Rogers reads "The Rites of Passage," one of her poems included in the anthology. Steve Paulson talks with Rogers about her delight in using scientific language. Pattiann Rogers' most recent collection of poetry is "Eating Bread and Honey."

Physicist Gregory Benford theorizes and experiments in the fields of astrophysics and plasma physics. He also writes award-winning science fiction, including "Timescape" and "Cosm." Jim Fleming talks with Benford about "Cosm" in which a young physicist accidentally creates a universe.

Distribution dates:

• week of 02/14/99 - hour 2