Astrophysicist Mario Livio joins me to discuss his latest book 'Galileo and the Science Deniers', which chronicles the scientific discoveries of Galileo Galilei and how his advocacy of the heliocentric theory led him into confrontation with the Pope. Our conversation covers the significance of Galileo's discovers, the strengths and weaknesses of his case for the heliocentric theory, his role in establishing the modern scientific method, and what we can learn from this episode in history about the importance of intellectual freedom and science communication in the present day.
Check out Mario's book on Amazon.
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Special Episode: Mario Livio on Galileo

I discuss a variety of topics in both the natural and social sciences, exploring the many fascinating insights that the scientific method yields about the world around us.

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Science & Medicine

Social Sciences

Science

A detailed discussion of the greenhouse effect and its impact on Earth's climate. We begin with a discussion of Earth’s energy budget, the various greenhouse gases and their interactions with longwave radiation, and a summary of major sources of greenhouse gas emisions. We then examine the mechanisms of the greenhouse effect in more detail using the idealised greenhouse model and radiative transfer models. We conclude with an analysis of the sensitivity of Earth's climate to changes in greenhouse gas concentrations, and how this interacts with the atmospheric lapse rate. Recommended prelistening is Episode 141: Natural Climate Change.
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Episode 142: The Greenhouse Effect

An overview of the natural mechanisms by which climate changes over time. Beginning with an introduction to the concepts of radiative forcing and climate sensitivity, we then discuss solar forcing, orbital changes, volcanic eruptions, and silicate weathering, covering how each process operates and the effects it has on Earth's climate over varying periods of time. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 140: A History of Earth's Climate.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Episode 141: Natural Climate Change

A journey through the history of Earth's changing climate, in which we explore how Earth's climate has fluctuated over the past billion years. After reviewing the various temperature proxies used to estimate past climactic conditions, we discuss the varying hothouse and icehouse periods of Earth's history, the onset of the Quarternay Ice Age, the current interglacial period, the anomoly of the Younger Dryas, the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Ages, and the rapid rise in temperatures during the twentieth century. Recommended pre-listening is Episode 90: Climate Systems.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Episode 140: A History of Earth's Climate

In this special collaboration with I Know Dino podcast, we discuss the history and impact of dinosaurs in popular culture and media. We cover the history of the scientific study of dinosaurs and how their presentation in media has changed over time with new discoveries, and what aspects of their behaviour and appearance tend to be presented accuracy or inaccurately. We also discuss lesser-known aspects of understanding dinosaurs, such as how changes in the atmosphere and ecosystem would affect dinosaurs of they were to be alive today.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Special Episode: Dinosaurs in Popular Culture

An introduction to cryptography, internet security, and cryptocurrency, beginning with an overview of RSA cryptography and covering the use of public and private keys and their incorporation into the Transport Layer Security protocol used for secure internet communications. We then examine the key features of cryptocurrencies, including the blockchain, proof of work consensus mechanism, the use of hash functions, and the role of crypto mining. We conclude with a discussion of some of the advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrencies, including their anonymity, volatility, use in crime, and environmental impacts.
If you enjoyed the podcast please consider supporting the show by making a PayPal donation or becoming a Patreon supporter.
https://www.patreon.com/jamesfodor
https://www.paypal.me/ScienceofEverything

Special Episode: Mario Livio on Galileo

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