Episode 1224
Join us for a deep dive into the life of Galileo Galilei, the Italian polymath celebrated as the "father of modern science" and observational astronomy. Born in Pisa in 1564, Galileo’s work fundamentally transformed our understanding of the physical world, from the motion of falling bodies to the structure of the solar system.
In this episode, we explore:
• The Telescope and the Heavens: How Galileo improved the telescope to up to 30x magnification, allowing him to discover craters on the Moon, the phases of Venus, and the four largest moons of Jupiter, which he originally named the "Medicean stars".
• Physics and Motion: His pioneering experiments with pendulums and his challenges to Aristotelian physics, including the famous (though likely thought-based) Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment regarding falling bodies.
• The Galileo Affair: The dramatic conflict between Galileo and the Catholic Church over Copernican heliocentrism. We discuss the publication of his controversial Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, his 1633 trial where he was found "vehemently suspect of heresy," and his forced recantation.
• Legacy and Myth: The truth behind the legend that he muttered "E pur si muove" ("And yet it moves") after his trial, and his final years under house arrest in Arcetri, where, despite blindness, he completed his scientific masterpiece, Two New Sciences.
Published on 2 days, 13 hours ago
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