The life of a scientist is nothing like we read about in novels or see in the movies. There are many false starts, wrong turns, frustrations and most of all hard work. Tonight on Inquiry, we talk with DAVID E. FISHER, Professor Emeritus of Geological Science and cosmochemistry at the University of Miami and founding Director of its Environmental Sciences program. His new book MUCH ADO ABOUT (PRACTICALLY) NOTHING: A HISTORY OF THE NOBLE GASES is part history of chemistry and part memoir of a life spent using the noble gases to explore the ages of meteorites and continental drift. Fisher’s book is also an honest account of the life of a scientist in academia trying to do research all the while dealing with rivalries, tenure issues and trying to find a balanced life. Tune in and learn about what a life as a research scientist is really like.
It’s night, and as you sit staring through a window at the lights of your town or city, you realize you can also simultaneously see a reflection of yourself in the windowpane. A common enough experience, but to understand why we can see both through glass and our reflection is to understand some of the most complex, puzzling and counter-intuitive concepts of Quantum Theory. That a photon acts both, and neither, like a wave and a particle. That the photon is deeply random and utterly unpredictable. But though the universe is fundamentally unpredictable, this unpredictability is predictable! If this sounds wild, it’s only the beginning of our discussion tonight with writer and cosmologist MARCUS CHOWN who returns to Inquiry to lead us down the quantum rabbit hole and continue his discussion about his mind blowing book THE MATCHBOX THAT ATE A FORTY TON TRUCK: WHAT EVERY DAY THINGS TELL US ABOUT THE UNIVERSE.
SEAN WILENTZ, the Sidney and Ruth Lapidus Professor in the American Revolutionary Era at Princeton University, is also the historian-in-residence for Bob Dylan’s official website. Sean’s dynamic new book BOB DYLAN IN AMERICA is not simply a biography or history of one of America’s greatest songwriters, it is a book that offers personal recollections combined with some refreshing insights into Dylan’s influences and inspirations. Tonight on Part One of our conversation we talk about Aaron Copeland’s music and politics and it’s effect on a young Dylan. We also talk about Dylan and The Beats, the creation of Blonde on Blonde, Dylan’s painting and two pivotal Dylan concerts including his Rolling Thunder Review. Don’t miss this interview!
This week, host Al Vuona interviews Dr. Steven Potter about his new book, Designer Genes. The book presents a balanced view, describing the underlying science in accessible terms and discussing the pros and cons of implementing this new technology. A leading expert in the field, Dr. Potter covers a broad range of topics on this challenging subject, presenting fascinating details of case histories and ongoing discoveries. Tune in this Sunday, September 26th at 10:30 pm!
Host Steve D'Agostino talks with Casey Starr of Main South Community Development Corp. and Fardeen Chowdhury of Cool Hat Web Design. They talk about celebrating Worcester's Main South neighborhood. Listen this Sunday, September 19 at 10 p.m. (Eastern) on The Business Beat on WICN/90.5 FM and in streaming audio at WICN.org.
Experience exceptional food, wine, and Nantucket hospitality as close to 30 of the islands culinary establishments dazzle your taste buds. Nantucket Restaurant Weeks presents a food and wine lovers paradise. This week Al chats with organizer Jenny Garneau about this fabulous gala and how it has people standing up and taking notice. There's even a Junior Chef Competition and annual Nantucket Chowder Contest. So join Al this Sunday evening and see why the East coast has a reason to boast.
If you have ever had a class in lab, then you have seen a Periodic Table poster hanging on the wall. Have you ever wondered about this family tree of elements, who created it and who got name these elements? Tune into Inquiry tonight when we talk with writer and journalist SAM KEAN about his entertaining meditation on the elements THE DISAPPEARING SPOON AND OTHER TRUE TALES OF MADNESS, LOVE AND THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD FROM THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS. Each element, from Aluminium to Zinc, has a long and complex tale of its discovery and its usages. Where did the crazy name Ytterbium ever come from? Who were the great element hunters? Why was Cadmium the element of choice used to kill Godzilla and what element did Mark Twain envisage Mephistopheles to be composed of? What was so very special about the Parker 51 pen? All this and much more will revealed in tonight’s Inquiry.
Inquiry welcomes back ROSEMARY DRISDELLE for Part Two of a discussion on her delightfully disturbing book PARASITES: TALES OF HUAMNITY’S MOST UNWELCOME GUESTS. There are types of parasites that act like the alien spores in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, taking over our minds and controlling our behaviors. Even Martina Navratilova has been a victim of these parasites hijacking her career. Have parasites ever been used as weapons of war? Finally, we talk about New England’s greatest threat from parasites: the widespread tick borne diseases like Lyme, Erlichiosis and Babesiosis. Have they always been here? Why are they now so prevalent?
In an all-new episode, Steve D'Agostino talks with Norm Ringdahl of The Prints and the Potter Gallery and Mark Waitkus of Waitkus Studios. They talk about the 35th anniversary of The Prints and the Potter Gallery and the "Paint the Town" show to celebrate it. Airs Sunday, September 12 at 10 pm on WICN!
This week host Al Vuona chats with Robert D'Attilio, a Boston based historian who is also a member of the Sacco and Venzetti Commemoration Society. This week marks the 83rd anniversary of the execution of Nicola Sacco and Bartolemeo Venzetti two Italian immigrants who were wrongly accused of murder. Their trial and subsequent executions has gone down in history as one of the greatest miscarriages of American justice.
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