Science Show - 2009-12-19

Play Now -->

DATE : Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1000
Entered in Database : 2009-12-18 14:00:00
length : 26612032
Link to the Show / Show Notes

Oxford University´s Professor for the Public Understanding of Science Marcus de Sautoy says mathematics is a basic tool and underlies all the sciences. He predicts mathematics will help unravel some of the complexities with the brain. He says understanding the brain and consciousness is one of the ultimate frontiers in science. His role involves explaining the scientific process to the public, including the understanding of probabilities associated with scientific ideas. How to become an expert - secrets of success Is a child prodigy born to be prodigious? Can it be predicted? Carl Wieman says research suggests great ability in sport or music or almost anything is related to motivation to develop expertise, usually many hours spent when young, helped by parents and other surrounding factors, and the belief in the learner that they can succeed, given enough effort. Marcus Chown´s silly science awards for 2009 These awards (The Chowns) reveal the personalities behind some famous and a few less famous names in science. Galileo Galilei Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy in 1564. He is seen as the father of modern physics due to his work on the motion of uniformly accelerating objects such as those which fall or move under the influence of gravity, and for developing the modern telescope. He was the first person to clearly state that the laws of nature could be described mathematically. In 1610 he published a book which stunned the world, describing the Moon, and the stars of the Milky Way. He supported the Copernican description of the solar system. But the Church was unhappy with his discoveries and writings. He said that science and religion should be separate stating the Bible was not a science textbook. This led to a trial where Galileo was forced to appear before a court, the Holy Office of the Inquisition. As he was 70 years old, he agreed to sign saying he didn´t agree with the Copernican view and would never again stray from the true faith. He lived out his final years under house arrest. Despite this he was able to write another treatise on physics which was smuggled out to the Netherlands where it was published.

Play in your Iphone