Brian May's Cosmic Clouds 3-D; How fish move between waterbodies and Jim Al-Khalili's take on physics

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 October 2020

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There are few images as awe-inspiring as those of the deep cosmos. Photos of the stars, galaxies, constellations and cosmic nebulae are difficult to improve on, but a new book might have done just that, by making them stereoscopic. David Eicher, Editor-in-Chief of Astronomy Magazine teamed up with astro-photographer J. P. Metsavainio, all engineered by astrophysicist and stereoscope enthusiast Dr Brian May, and they’ve created the first ever book on nebulae in 3-D, It’s called ‘Cosmic Clouds 3-D’, and is published by The London Stereoscopic Company. Have you ever thought about how fish arrive in a new pond or lake? Birds fly, other animals walk, or crawl, but fish are somewhat restricted to watery routes, and new lakes don’t necessarily have watery routes that fish can swim down. This question has been puzzling biologists for centuries. Andy Green, professor at the Doñana Biological Station in Spain has finally come up with the answer – a small number of fish eggs can survive in the guts of birds such as ducks. The Royal Society’s Insight Investment Science Book Prize shortlist was announced last week. And as every year, Inside Science is previewing each of the books, and talking to the six authors in line for this most prestigious literary prize. This week, physicist and Radio 4 brethren Jim Al-Khalili talks to Adam about how his book The World According to Physics shines a light on the most profound insights revealed by modern physics. Presenter – Adam Rutherford Producer – Fiona Roberts Produced in partnership with The Open University

Transcript

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0:31.4	BBC Sounds. Sounds. BBC Sounds, Music Radio Podcasts.
0:37.0	Hello you, this is the podcast of Inside Science from BBC Radio 4.
0:40.0	First broadcast on the 1st of October 2020. I'm Adam Rutherford. A rare treat
0:45.9	for you this week, a COVID-free program. Instead we've just got some spectacular
0:50.8	Cosmos shaking astrophysics to fill us with awe and wonder and intriguing biological mysteries to solve such as have you ever wondered how fish not generally known for walking or flying arrive in new lakes. Well we have the answer.
1:06.8	But to start there are few images as awe-inspiring as those of the deep Cosmos,
1:11.7	photos of stars, galaxies, constellations and cosmic nebulae
1:16.3	are difficult to improve on, but a new book might have done just that by making them stereoscopic.
1:22.1	David Eicher, who is the editor-in-chief of Astronomy magazine,
1:25.0	teamed up with the astro photographer
1:27.5	J.P. Metzavano, all engineered by astrophysicist and stereoscope enthusiasts, Brian May and they've created the first
1:35.8	ever book on nebulae in 3D it's called Cosmic Clouds 3D where Stars Are Born and
1:42.2	it's published by the London Stereoscopic Company.
1:45.0	I spoke to David and Brian who you might also know as a guitarist in a band called Queen
	...

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