Templeton Ideas Podcast Philip Ball (Metaphors in Science)
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Feb 1, 2024 Science writer Philip Ball joins the podcast to discuss his 30-year journey of science writing and his new book 'How Life Works.' He challenges popular metaphors in science, like DNA as a blueprint, and explores the complexity of biology. They also touch on the guest's childhood, passion for writing, and the role of metaphors in understanding biology.
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Early Computing With Punch Cards
- Philip Ball describes being sent to a computing course in 1972 where code was written on punch cards.
- That early exposure gave him a visceral sense of computing's emergence and sparked his curiosity.
Childhood Chemistry Sparks Career
- Ball recalls hands-on school chemistry, borrowing chemicals and sticking his finger into mercury.
- Those tactile experiments ignited his lifelong fascination with chemistry and science writing.
Nature Shaped His Writing Path
- Ball describes starting at Nature in 1988 and training as a sub-editor, learning to edit and set type.
- That role opened doors and made it possible to transition into full-time science writing.