John Gribbin
Visiting Fellow in Astronomy at the University of Sussex
6 episodes
Covers topics in categories such as:
Galaxies
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the galaxies; spread out across the void of space like spun sugar, but harbouring in their centres super-massive black holes.
29 June 2006
Also featuring: Carolin Crawford, Robert Kennicutt
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Melvyn Bragg discusses the Second Law of Thermodynamics from steam and boiling an egg to the Big Bang.
16 December 2004
Also featuring: Peter Atkins, Monica Grady
The Scientist
Melvyn Bragg discusses how the role of the scientist and our understanding of it has changed, and examines when the word, figure and idea of the scientist emerged in a recognisably distinctive way.
24 October 2002
Also featuring: Patricia Fara, Hugh Pennington
Nuclear Physics
Melvyn Bragg discusses the controversial 20th century scientific breakthrough and development of nuclear physics, which harnesses the enigmatic qualities of the atom’s core to create nuclear power.
10 January 2002
Also featuring: Jim Al-Khalili, Christine Sutton
Quantum Gravity
Melvyn Bragg discusses the attempts to understand the Quantum world, which deals with the smallest invisible particles, and to which classical theories of gravity, motion and relativity do not apply.
22 February 2001
Also featuring: Lee Smolin, Janna Levin
Science in the 20th century
Melvyn Bragg discusses how perceptions of science have changed in the 20th century and examines whether it is coming any closer to integrating with philosophy or the social sciences.
5 November 1998
Also featuring: Mary Midgley