Chris Lintott’s Universe

The Sunday Times had an interesting and extremely thoughtful article about the difference between the current wave of science books and the past. I don’t agree with all of it; I think to lump Dawkins, Hawking and Steve Jones together is, to say the lease, a little over simplistic, but I do think they captured what we’re trying to do.

Wonder is not laden with scientistic attitude. It is open-minded and embraces uncertainty. Indeed, the greatest living science writer, EO Wilson, admitted, while contemplating the Amazonian rainforest, that some part of him resisted the scientific impulse to know and explain all. He wanted the wonder and mystery, as well as the knowledge. Wonder also illuminates everything, no matter how small.

We arrived in California yesterday evening following an extremely long and uneventuful flight. We even managed to rescue all of our luggage – eventually – which is always reassuring. We’re here to film a series of interviews, mainly for our Mars special which goes out early next year, and first up is a trip to somewhere I’ve always wanted to go: JPL.

I’ll be posting reports throughout the week, wireless access permitting.

Housekeeping: I am ignoring comments for now due to an influx of spam. Longer term solutions to follow.