About Science (1966-1968)

January 19, 2024 7:30 PM

The About Science Series Collection is made up of 75 radio interviews focused on the advancements of science. Produced by the California Institute of Technology, the series aired on KPPC* in Pasadena from 1966 to 1968 ... Each half-hour episode introduced one or more experts who examined a specific area of interest. Episodes like “About lead in the atmosphere” and “About developments in family planning” provide a unique lens into the technological, political, social, and environmental concerns of the time. Many episodes shed light on advancements that have only become more relevant today, such as “About computer languages,” “About international cooperation in space,” and “About ocean pollution.”

Via American Archive of Public Broadcasting [Previously] [Previously]

*The linked text actually says "KPCC," but this is a factual error, as they have (very understandably) conflated KPCC with the now-defunct KPPC, both of which are/were in Pasadena. I happen to be working on getting a different collection into AAPB right now, so I alerted them to the error and I hope/expect this asterisk will be defunct in relatively short order.)

posted by mykescipark (3 comments total)

I was also tickled to learn that the project was spearheaded by an MFA Candidate in Poetry, because I think it takes a romantic to do this kind of work.
posted by mykescipark at 7:31 PM on January 19

This looks amazing, can't wait to dig into it. Thanks!
posted by biogeo at 9:33 PM on January 19

Aww shucks: This content is currently not available at your location.
It's striking that there is virtually nothing in the title list about genes, genomics. The "universal" genetic code wasn't sorted till late 1966. Nirenberg and Matthaei in a 1961 paper first assigned a codon (UUU) to one amino acid (Phe). Nirenberg shared a Nobel in 1968 for cracking the codons.
posted by BobTheScientist at 10:27 PM on January 19