A History of Science – A podcast exploring the cultures, communities, and contexts of scientific progress.

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020

⑥ Revolutionary Science▪On the politicization of science during the French Revolution

The French Revolution was the culmination of Enlightenment thinking. But rather than celebrating science, the revolutionaries suppressed ideas and killed the people that held them.

Jones, Steve

Revolutionary Science: Transformation and Turmoil in the Age of the Guillotine Book

2017, ISBN: 1681773090.

Israel, Jonathan

Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from The Rights of Man to Robespierre Book

2015, ISBN: 0691169713.

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September 20, 2017April 27, 2019

⑤ The Philosopher’s Study▪On alchemy’s transition into chemistry

In the 16th century, alchemy became a victim of its own success. The more it achieved, the more its reputation suffered.

Moran, Bruce T

Distilling Knowledge Book

2006, ISBN: 9780674022492.

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July 14, 2017April 27, 2019

④ Between Skin and Bones▪On surgery’s discord with anatomy

In the 16th century, great advances were made in anatomy. Amazingly, this didn’t lead to a single improvement in surgery, which remained crude, cruel, and lethal.

Wootton, David

Bad Medicine Book

2007, ISBN: 9780199212798.

Vesalius, Andreas

De humani corporis fabrica Online

1543.

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May 23, 2017April 27, 2019

③ Enchanting Numbers▪On computers’ invention as mechanical calculators

Computing began long before the twentieth century. Mechanical calculators ran on cogs, wheels, and steam engines.

Padua, Sydney

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage Book

2015.

MechanicalComputing,

How the Pascaline works Online

2012.

Scoble, Robert

A demo of Charles Babbage's Difference Engine Online

2010.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 27:44 — 26.3MB)

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May 2, 2017April 27, 2019

② Beyond the Edge of the World▪On worldviews in Columbus’ time

Columbus discovers America. But more importantly, he discovers discovery itself.

Wootton, David

The Invention of Science Book

2016, ISBN: 978-0141040837.

Britannica, Encyclopædia

Art From The Encyclopædia Britannica (1768–71) Online

1768.

Clavius, Christoph

In sphaeram ioannis de Sacro Bosco commentarius Online

1570.

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April 14, 2017April 27, 2019

① Bloody Beginnings▪On blood transfusion as medical cure-all

Daring 17th century doctors try their hand at blood transfusion. With fatal consequences.

Tucker, Holly

Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution Book

2012, ISBN: 978-0-393-34223-9.

Harvey, William

Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis in Animalibus Online

1628.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 26:50 — 25.5MB)

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Science is never the work of any one individual. Its history is not a steady progression of successful discoveries. Its story involves as much perspiration as it does inspiration, counting a dozen failures for each success.

What drove pioneering scientists? Did they seek wisdom or wealth? Did they want to reveal nature or reform it? Were their insights brilliant or bizarre? And did they shape their world more than it shaped them?

In A History of Science, I explore the cultures, communities, and contexts in which these people gained their remarkable insights.

This podcast is produced infrequently by me, Dr Michiel Meulendijk. I am an information scientist and a history buff.

All that remains of the past is information; whether it be ruins, fossils, or manuscripts. History is the narrative we build interpreting that information.