The Scientific Odyssey

A discussion of the motions of the planets in the night sky and some of the cultural associations that go with them.  Observations such as retrograde motion, maximum elongation, conjunction and opposition are examined.

In this episode we discuss the astronomy of the early dynastic period of China including the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties.  Specific attention is paid the the idea of the Mandate of Heaven and its relation to circumpolar astronomy.

An examination of the motion of the Sun through the sky.  We discuss the use of gnomons to make measurements and the Sun's path through the Zodiac on the ecliptic with special attention to the equinoxes and solstices.  We conclude with an discussion of the yearly calendar in many cultures.

This episode focuses on the practice of ancient Egyptian astronomy and its relationship to the culture's religion and agriculture.  Particular attention is paid to the motions of Sirius, the Great Pyramid at Giza, the "Stretching the Cord" ceremony and the association of the pharaohs with the Sun and heavens.

In this episode we consider observations of the moon and the role it has in keeping time and representing resurrection in the heavens.  Defined are both sidereal and synodic months and well as lunar calendar years.

This episode is a guided tour of the night sky looking in each of the cardinal directions.  East or orient for rising, West or occident for setting, north for circumpolar stars and south for the Zodiac.

In the introductory episode of our new season, we lay out the course for our next journey into the realm of cosmology.  We will begin with the by considering our modern disassociation with the sky and unfurl our sails to reconnect in the ways the most ancient astronomers did.

In this episode, we talk about the history of metallurgy from the paleolithic to contemporary times including the use of copper, the development of bronze and steel technology and modern techniques that have shed light on how metals acquire the properties we find so useful.

In this last episode on Richard Feynman, we cover his work in condensed matter physics on superfluidity and superconductivity, the development of V-A meson theory and parton theory.  We also discuss his work with the presidential commission's investigation of the Challenger explosion.

In this continuation of our biography of the life and scientific work of Richard Feynman, we look at the work for which he would win his Nobel prize.  Beginning with his move to Cornell after the end of the Manhattan Project, we cover his full development of the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, it's application to renormalization of quantum electrodynamics and the development of his Feynman Diagram.  We also consider the contributions of Julian Schwinger and Freeman Dyson.