Many of you have likely seen this short film. If you haven't, you're in for a treat.

Steven Berlin Johnson is a writer and entrepreneur who writes on the history of ideas. His books have included Everything Bad is Good for You, which suggested that contemporary popular culture is more challenging to the mind than it's accused of being, and The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World, which tracked the spread of cholera in London in the mid-19th century as a way to understand the networked modern city. His newest book, The Invention of Air: A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution and the Birth of America tracks the life of the 18th century writer and scientist Joseph Priestley, and how his story can help us learn about the growth and development of ideas. Johnson also created the news discussion site plastic.com and the hyper-local site outside.in.

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John Hodgman
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Here, in three parts, is the fake periodic table of the elements from the amazing Look Around You. Click on them to make them larger. It is *so* worth it.

Can there be any doubt that this man is the greatest sciencist of the 20th century?!

Can there be any doubt that this man has got to have his orange juice?

A THOUSAND TIMES NO!

via metafilter

Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich are the host/producer and co-host (respectively) of the brilliant public radio program RadioLab. The show is a long-form investigation of life's Big Ideas, through the lens of science. It has won plaudits not only for its insightful and utterly comprehensible explanations of scientific principles, but also for its emotionally engaging narratives and bold production style. This American Life producer Ira Glass has said that when he heard RadioLab, he know immediately that "there's a new sheriff in town."

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If you enjoyed this show, try these ones:
Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster
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Chris plays science with The Office's Rainn Wilson

Chris Hardwick started his television career as a pre-teen bowler, touring talk shows like "Mike Douglas," where he bowled against Jimmie Walker. He came to national prominence while still in college as the host of MTV's Singled Out. He's since forged a career as a comedian and comic singer-songwriter with his partner Mike Phirman as Hard N Phirm. Most recently, he's been co-host of the PBS series Wired Science.

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Download This Show (MP3)

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Satirist George Saunders
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