I pulled George Gamow’s 1947 book about EVERYTHING off the shelf of the Book Barn with a pile of other science and sci-fi books. They were all stacked in the same section at the time. It ended up being my introduction to the real world version of the fundamental interconnectedness of all things.
It was intensely cool to
see detailed examples how that concept, which I’d already seen and embraced
through fiction and philosophical angles, applied to science and nature as
well.
This book was a
fantastic example of this notion, providing entertaining introductions to
number theory, higher dimensions, relativity, atomic chemistry, nuclear
physics, entropy, DNA, evolution, and cosmology. The inclusion of the mathematics part at the
beginning of the book was an important feature.
The combination explanation between the math and the physics it was
invented for was the only way I was able to understand where the imaginary
numbers came from in algebra, and why they made perfect sense. Annoyingly, my middle school math class
refused to take the time to cover the relativistic physics behind their
existence.
This is definitely one
of those books that I learned more from on each reading. The benefits of being smarter enhanced the
nuances each time through.
However, I did cheat a
bit the first time I read it, because I’d seen some of the ideas and
interconnections before…
Starting on a Sunday
evening on PBS station WNET 13 in 1980.
It turns out Carl
Sagan’s Cosmos was following in the
footsteps of this book, and also Gamow’s Mr.
Tompkins series. Both were
accomplished and successful astrophysicists who had a knack for imparting the marvels
of the universe and the importance of science and its methods to all levels of
society.
It is easy to see how
men like these are often involved with CSICOP and other groups known for
debunking.
They not only have an
understanding, but an artistic appreciation for the wonders of all aspects,
processes and scales of the natural world; and also the abilities, potential
and accomplishments of humankind.
Why invent an incredible
tale of ancient aliens that “must” have come to build the pyramids? Instead, by
using scientific analysis, an even more impressive tale of how primitive humans
were able to define the methods leading them to work together and accomplish
the task themselves.
The Universe itself is
amazing, and science gives us the tools to appreciate that amazingness.
The original Cosmos had such an impact on my
generation that members of it in the entertainment industry with no scientific
background have worked to bring it back.
On FOX of all
places!
This time it’s hosted by Neil Degrasse Tyson, the inheritor of Carl Sagan’s position in so many ways.
Seriously, I’m not sure
if I got more choked up by the Director of the Hayden Planetarium’s heartfelt
tribute to his mentor in the opening episode, or watching my daughter’s look of
wide eyed awe and excitement as he toured the universe, which matched the look
on my young face when I watched Carl Sagan’s trip at the same age she is now with
my Dad.
I was ecstatic to see
they’ve maintained the history of scientists sections along with the raw
information. It’s important to portray
the strengths of the scientific method allowing information to build and become
stronger over time. It is equally
crucial to show the dangers of letting the closed minded and change resistant
be in charge of society and stifle intellectual growth.
Don’t think that’s
important?
An Oklahoma FOX
affiliate “accidentally” covered the references in the first episode to evolution with a news promo about a twelve year old bow hunter.
That made sensationalizing Bruno’s story to serve as a general example completely understandable.
ANY effort to get the
general public to understand the scientific definition of theory is important.
“Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.”
Education about the fact that “Just a theory,” from a scientific standpoint, means explanations that “are the most reliable, most rigorous, and most comprehensive form of knowledge that humans possess” is SORELY NEEDED.
Dr Tyson stared right at the screen and said something incredibly close to this in Episode 2. Lets hope someone in Oklahoma was listening..
Dr Tyson stared right at the screen and said something incredibly close to this in Episode 2. Lets hope someone in Oklahoma was listening..
I’ll definitely be
watching the whole series with my daughter, even on school nights. It’s as important to get her mind as open as possible to this stuff as it is to educate her in school.
I urge all the other
parents out there to do the same. Only
two episodes have passed, there’s time to get them on demand or wherever.
The universe around us
is an amazing and wonderful place at all scales, both the objects in it and the
laws they follow. However, some
understanding is needed to get a full appreciation of it all.
Don’t miss the
opportunity to have someone who excels at understanding and conveying it in a
way that can be appreciated take you and your family on a tour of it all.
Come back next week, in two weeks, eventually foranother bit of important and educational entertainment to thrust on your kids.
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