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The Birth of the Universe
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Modern day cosmologists wrestle with the big questions: How did it all begin? And how will it all end? Ancient religions and cultures have long turned to the celestial skies to find the answers. Now scientists are taking an empirical approach to understanding the universe based in evidence, not myth.

When scientific theories can explain the origins of the universe, what do we gain as a society? As a culture? The mystery remains but in a vastly different form, as inflationary theory and the Big Bang.

In this hour, the evolution of cosmology, from its religious roots to modern science. Has our science-centric view of the world helped us, or hurt us? Can we reconcile prophecy and science?

Guests:

Marcelo Gleiser, Author of “The Prophet and the Astronomer” and Professor of Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College

Alan Guth, Professor of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 
 

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On Point Today
Sonny Rollins
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 (photo: sonnyrollins.com)

We’ll talk with tenor saxophone great Sonny Rollins about his six decades at the pinnacle of jazz.

 
Ireland’s Epic Boom and Bust
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

For more than a decade Ireland boomed. It was Europe’s Celtic Tiger. Then it came crashing down. We’ll look at Ireland’s wild rise, and what went wrong.

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Recent Shows
Ben Zimmer on Language
Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Blogger and lexicographer Ben Zimmer takes over William Safire’s language column. We’ll catch the new wave of American language.

Comments [160]
 
Will the Dodd Bill Do the Job?
Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Senator Chris Dodd finally unveils his bill to rewrite the nation’s Wall Street regulation. Is it tough enough to do the job?

Comments [25]
On Point Blog
IED’s in Afghanistan: Hard Numbers

The Department of Defense provided On Point with some statistics about IED attacks in Afghanistan, where there has been an increase in the use of such weapons over the past 14 months. It’s striking to see the spike in numbers — from 2,677 IED incidents in 2007 to 8,159 last year.

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Christopher Hill: U.S. Troop Withdrawal ‘On Schedule’

U.S. Ambassaor to Iraq Christopher Hill spoke with On Point live from Baghdad today as early voting gets underway, part of the run-up to Sunday’s elections. “So far so good,” Hill said, despite scattered violence. Hill said that the plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops by Sept. 1, and to leave only a residual advisory force of 50,000 or fewer, remains “very much on schedule.” Observers worry that a spike in violence could derail that timeline.

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The Supreme Court’s Radio Silence

For radio listeners, a key element of our conversation about the Supreme Court gun-rights case was conspicuously absent: the audio recording of the oral arguments. Here’s why.

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