Melvyn Bragg and guests delve into the fascinating world of Carbon, discussing its versatile bonding capabilities, presence in everyday items, significance in energy production, and role in nanotechnology. They explore the formation of carbon in stars, its diverse applications in technology, and the challenges posed by depleting carbon energy sources.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the anti slavery novel, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. When Abraham Lincoln met the writer Harriet Beecher Stowe after the start of the American Civil War, he reportedly said to her: 'So you're the little lady whose book started this big war'. Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, published in 1852, is credited as fuelling the cause to abolish slavery in the northern half of the United States in direct response to its continuation in the South. The book deals with the harsh reality of slavery and the enduring power of Christian faith. It proved to be the bestselling novel of the 19th century, outselling the Bible in its first year of publication. Its fame spread internationally, No other book had portrayed an African-American slave as a central figure who was heroic and Christ-like. Lord Palmerston praised it highly and Tolstoy reportedly said it was his favourite novel. What impact did Uncle Tom's Cabin have on the on the Civil War and the abolition of slavery in 19th century America? How did the book create stereotypes about African Americans, many of which endure to this day? And what was its literary legacy? With Dr Celeste-Marie Bernier, Lecturer in American Studies at the University of Nottingham; Dr Sarah Meer, Lecturer and Director of Studies in English at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge; Dr Clive Webb, Reader in American History at the University of Sussex.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the heart. Aristotle considered the heart to be the seat of thought, reason and emotion. The Roman physician Galen located the seat of the passions in the liver, the seat of reason in the brain, and considered the heart to be the seat of the emotions. It was not until the 17th century that the physician William Harvey wrote in the preface to his thesis On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals, a letter addressed to King Charles I. 'The heart of animals is the foundation of their life, the sovereign of everything within them...from which all power proceeds. The King, in like manner, is the foundation of his kingdom, the sun of the world around him, the heart of the republic, the foundation whence all power, all grace doth flow'. Harvey was probably wise to address the King in this manner, for what he laid out in his groundbreaking text challenged scientific wisdom that had gone unquestioned for centuries about the true function of the heart. Organs had been seen in a hierarchical structure with the heart as the pinnacle. But Harvey transformed the metaphor into something quite different: the heart as a mechanistic pumping device. How had the Ancient Greeks and Islamic physicians understood the heart? What role did the bodily humours play in this understanding? Why has the heart always been seen as the seat of emotion and passion? And why was it that despite Harvey's discoveries about the heart and its function, this had limited implications for medical therapy and advancement? With David Wootton, Anniversary Professor of History at the University of York; Fay Bound Alberti, Research Fellow at the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine at the University of Manchester; Jonathan Sawday, Professor of English Studies at the University of Strathclyde.

Delve into the mathematical structures at the core of music, the physics of sound, and the relationship between maths and music. Explore early music creation, the difference in hearing octaves across cultures, the 'golden section' sequence, and the resurgence of mathematics in composition in the twentieth century.

Melvyn Bragg and guests delve into the life and ideas of philosopher John Stuart Mill, focusing on the integration of logic and poetry in philosophy, his stance on women's equality, and his influence on modern discussions on social reform and individual freedom. They explore how Mill's utilitarian background shaped his political beliefs, why he considered Romantic literature crucial for society, and the significance of his notions of individualism in current social theory.

Explore the evolution of fairies from ancient myths to Victorian literature. Discover their supernatural power and connection to human fears. Learn about the transformation of fairy beliefs, their role in witch trials, and influence on literary figures like Peter Pan.

Exploring the intersection of science, empire, and navigation through historical figures like James Cook. Discussing the crucial role of astronomy in maritime trade routes. Exploring advancements in scientific instruments and global scientific knowledge expansion. Delving into historical expeditions mapping stars and encounters between European and indigenous navigators. Exploring clashes of belief systems in the 19th century and verifying Einstein's theory of relativity.

Melvyn Bragg discusses the Great Exhibition of 1851, highlighting its impact on British manufacturing, global markets, and cultural reputation. The exhibition showcased unique technologies and inventions, symbolizing progress and innovation in early Victorian Britain. Prince Albert's influence, management of crowds, and collaboration with European police are also explored, along with the rise and fall of the iconic Crystal Palace.

From the origins of smallpox inoculation in Constantinople to Edward Jenner's groundbreaking vaccination, the podcast explores the historical progression of immunisation. It discusses the diverse adoption of immunisation practices and the British government's introduction of compulsory vaccination in 1853, sparking public resistance. The episode also delves into the successful eradication of smallpox by the World Health Organization through mass vaccination campaigns.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Oxford Movement in the Church of England in the 19th century. Cardinal John Henry Newman is perhaps the most significant Christian theologian of the nineteenth century. He began as an evangelical, becoming a High Anglican before converting to Roman Catholicism in 1845. His is the story of the diversity of Victorian religious life. But his path also marks the waning of the ideas of Protestant nationhood at the close of the eighteenth century and the reaffirmation of the Catholic tradition at the turn of the twentieth century. For over a decade, between 1833 and 1845, Newman and his fellow travellers, the Oxford Movement, argued that the Church of England was a holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. They sought to assert the Catholic nature of their Church just as secularism, liberalism, non-conformism, and even Roman Catholicism, seemed to threaten her. They published tracts, preached and brought their social mission to some of the poorest urban parishes. Why between 1833 and 1845 was the voice of reaction such a loud one? What was the Oxford Movement and what motivated them? How did they present their ideas to the Anglican clergy at large and what did the clergy make of them? And why did they leave such a powerful legacy for the Church of England, its character and its churches? With Sheridan Gilley, Emeritus Reader in Theology at the University of Durham; Frances Knight, Senior Lecturer in Church History at the University of Wales, Lampeter; Simon Skinner, Fellow and Tutor in History at Balliol College, Oxford.