It's Monday, August 14th, 2017, and you're listening to Inquiring Minds. I'm Kishorehari.

Indre will be back next week. Each week, we bring you a new in-depth exploration of the space where science,

politics, and society collide. We endeavor to find out what's true, what's left to discover,

and why it all matters. Find us online at

inquiring.com or on Twitter at Inquiring Show and on Facebook. And you can subscribe to the show

on iTunes or any other podcast. This week's episode is brought to you by Audubal with an unmatched selection of audiobooks, original audio shows, news, comedy, and more.

Get a free audiobook with a 30-day trial at audible.com slash minds.

Next week brings us the great American solar eclipse, the first total solar eclipse over North

America in decades and the first in the internet age.

So unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard a lot about the eclipse.

But for those who haven't, this week we're diving deep into eclipse mania, including some

last minute tips for those who haven't planned accordingly.

But I have to admit, I'm an eclipse skeptic.

No, I don't mean I think there's a flat earth out there that's going to cast a line across

the moon.

But I've never understood the fervor of why so many have this incredible experience of when the sun goes dark just for a few minutes.

But even a skeptic like myself was warmed by this week's guess.

We have on Andrew Frachnoy, long-time astronomer, an esteemed public educator.

He's chair emeritus of the astronomy department at Foothill College, and he'll be joining

the faculty at the University of San Francisco this fall. He's written a children's book

about the eclipse entitled When the Sun Goes Dark and partnered with the National Science

Teachers Association on

...