Radiolab
Space
Show #205
Friday, May 12, 2006
In the 60’s, space exploration was an American obsession. But the growing reality of space has turned the romance to cynicism. We chart the path from then to now. We begin with Ann Druyan, widow of Carl Sagan, with a story about the Voyager expedition, true love, and golden record that travels through space. For a dose of reality, astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson explains the Coepernican Principle and just how insignificant we are.
Looking Up
Star gazing, it’s hard not to feel small...and lonely. Maybe that’s why it’s so irresistible to look out into all that darkness and see our own reflection staring us back, like Narcissus gazing into the pool. On this episode of Radio Lab, we reflect on our romance with, projections upon, and insignificance within space. We begin by joining some sky watchers at Fire Island to see what they see. Then, we take a trip to see Ann Druyan, one of the creators of the 1977 Golden Album included on the Voyager probes. We invited composer Philip Glass to remix this album.
Links:
»Amateur Observers' Society of New York
»Voyager Golden Record
»Hear Philip Glass' Music
Listen To These:
Chef and Restaurateur Alice Waters produced by Jocelyn Gonzales
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Author and Graphic Artist Neil Gaiman produced by Miyuki Joikiranta
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Comedian and much more Margaret Cho produced by Trent Wolbe
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Author Michael Cunningham
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It's Not About You
And now an uglier, less twinkly side of the little stars. First up, aliens. Despite our endless fascination with them, Tim Ferris, author of Coming of Age in the Milky Way , will tell us how unlikely it is that we'll ever encounter life in the universe. There's just too much distance and time floating around out there. An idea which makes us suddenly scratch our heads and ask, what is space, anyways? We talk to physicist and mathematician Brian Greene , author of The Elegant Universe to try and sort it all out. And then, to really put things in perspective, we'll see how big space looks when compared to the tiny little spec that is you, or me, us humans. When Copernicus shifted the center of all creation from this planet to the sun, he set a chain of events in motion. Neil deGrasse Tyson tells us about the Copernican Principle, which says, if you think it's all about you then you are probably wrong.
Links:
»Who was Copernicus?
»Visit the Hayden Planetarium
»How Big Is the Universe?
»Read Brian Greene's Books
»Read Tim Ferris' Books
Holding Moonbeams in Your Hand
How DO you hold a moonbeam in your hand? Finally we take a look at some people who are trying to reconcile the romantic and cynical perceptions of space by taking matters into their own hands. First, we'll hear about artist Dario Robleto's attempt to finish the lost Space Shuttles' work. Next, Dr. Peter Diamandis advocates for risk, enterprise and optimism for the non-governmental future of human space flight. We'll end our hour, looking back with a piece from producer Barrett Golding about the last transmission from the moon.
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Links:
»What is X Prize?
»The TED Confernece...where Peter Diamandis spoke.
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