StarTalk Radio

A Key & A Kite: StarTalk Live! With Benjamin Franklin

Jun 28, 2022

Join Benjamin Franklin, the legendary Founding Father and inventor, alongside Ellen Cohn, expert on his life at Yale, for a lively discussion. They delve into Franklin's iconic kite experiment and the fascinating science of electricity, including his invention of the lightning rod. The conversation touches on Franklin's role in securing French support during the Revolutionary War and how curiosity fuels innovation. With a blend of humor and historical insights, they highlight Franklin's lasting impact on American society and the importance of scientific exploration.

01:04:05

Creator website

Episode guests

Benjamin Franklin

Ellen Cohn

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Benjamin Franklin Unplugged

15min

The Transit of Venus and Its Legacy

6min

Celebrating Franklin's Legacy

3min

The Sparks of Innovation

16min

Benjamin Franklin's Brilliant Oil Experiment

2min

Leadership and Luxury: A Brief Interlude

2min

Franklin's Diplomatic Dance

10min

Climatic Conjectures and the Science of Belief

10min

10.

The Lifelong Experimentation of Benjamin Franklin

4min

How does lightning work? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck break down the legendary science and inventions of Benjamin Franklin, live with chief editor of The Benjamin Franklin Papers, Ellen Cohn and Benjamin Franklin himself!

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/a-key-a-kite-startalk-live-with-benjamin-franklin/

Thanks to our Patrons Andrew Herron, Bhargava Kandada, and Mark Roop for supporting us this week.

Photo Credit: Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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