Mondays With Mike, Mapping The Universe, Celebrating The Dictionary

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time
Image of a planetary nebula captured by the Hubble Telescope.
Image of a planetary nebula captured by the Hubble Telescope. NASA, ESA and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

There’s a lot of the universe to map, and a new effort could chart up to one-third of the sky. A physicist joins us to talk about the research. We also talk with an NPR journalist whose new project celebrates the Oxford English Dictionary and its most interesting words. Plus, WPR Director Mike Crane joins us to chat about the latest in programming and answer your questions.

Featured in this Show

  • Mondays With Mike – August 2021 Edition

    It’s time for another edition of Mondays with Mike! WPR Director Mike Crane stops by to celebrate the life and service of public broadcasting leader Gene Purcell. We also look at some upcoming programming changes and other happenings both on and off the air.

  • Researchers Conducting Sky Survey To Create Most-Detailed 3D Map Of Universe

    Researchers with a project known as the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument or “DESI” are trying to create the most detailed 3D map of the universe, covering approximately one-third of the sky. We talk to a physicist who’s worked with the project about what they hope to gain from the research.

  • NPR's Joe Palca on His Love Of The OED

    A few months into quarantine, NPR science reporter Joe Palca’s eye turned towards a huge book sitting in his attic: the Oxford English Dictionary. And so his Ode to the OED was born — a celebration of all the words, both normal and recondite, within its pages. He tells us some of his favorites.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Tyler Ditter Technical Director
  • Bill Martens Producer
  • Rachael Vasquez Producer
  • Colleen Leahy Producer
  • Mike Crane Guest
  • Risa Wechsler Guest
  • Joe Palca Guest

Related Stories