Starless World
Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by John Bishop, Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Roberto Trotta, as they look up to consider a world with starless skies.
Brian Cox and Robin Ince consider how different our understanding of the universe would be without the stars. They are joined by Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Roberto Trotta and comedian John Bishop who illuminate all that we have learnt from the stars and how different life would be without them.
Every culture has looked up at the night sky, but why are we so drawn to the pin pricks of light in the sky above us all and how have they helped shape human civilisation? Roberto Trotta takes us back to the origins of astronomy, to women who he believes were the first astronomers, linking the orbital period of the moon with the length of the menstrual cycle. We continue the historical journey, through the astronomical greats, Galileo, Copernicus and Kepler who all in part owe their scientific discoveries to the stars. Our panel marvel at how we, an infinitesimally small part of the universe, are able to look up at the stars and comprehend what is beyond and how this star-gazing has profoundly shaped our sense of selves as well as underpinned science as we know it.
Producer: Melanie Brown
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem
Researcher: Olivia Jani
大象传媒 Studios Audio production
On radio
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
- Thu 28 Nov 2024 11:00大象传媒 Radio 4
- Sat 30 Nov 2024 19:15大象传媒 Radio 4
10 reasons why aliens probably exist
Why we laugh: 9 things you didn鈥檛 know
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.
Podcast
-
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Brian Cox and Robin Ince host an irreverent look at the world through scientists' eyes.