Search a title or topic

Over 20 million podcasts, powered by 

Player FM logo
Artwork

Content provided by Science Friday and WNYC Studios, Science Friday, and WNYC Studios. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Science Friday and WNYC Studios, Science Friday, and WNYC Studios or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

Into The Ether

18:18
 
Share
 

Manage episode 247501748 series 1428722
Content provided by Science Friday and WNYC Studios, Science Friday, and WNYC Studios. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Science Friday and WNYC Studios, Science Friday, and WNYC Studios or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

In 1880, scientist Albert Michelson set out to build a device to measure something every 19th century physicist knew just had to be there. The “luminiferous ether” was invisible and pervaded all of space. It helped explain how light traveled, and how electromagnetic waves waved. Ether theory even underpinned Maxwell’s famous equations! One problem: When Alfred Michaelson ran his machine, the ether wasn’t there.

Science historian David Kaiser walks Annie and Science Friday host Ira Flatow through Michaelson’s famous experiment, and explains how a wrong idea led to some very real scientific breakthroughs.

This story first aired on Science Friday.

GUEST

David Kaiser, Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science, Professor of Physics, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

FOOTNOTES

Find out more about the Michelson-Morley experiment on APS Physics.

Read an archival article from the New York Times about the physicists’ experimental “failure.”

CREDITS

This episode of Undiscovered was produced by Annie Minoff and Christopher Intagliata. Our theme music is by I Am Robot And Proud.

  continue reading

30 episodes

Artwork

Into The Ether

Undiscovered

1,468 subscribers

published

iconShare
 
Manage episode 247501748 series 1428722
Content provided by Science Friday and WNYC Studios, Science Friday, and WNYC Studios. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Science Friday and WNYC Studios, Science Friday, and WNYC Studios or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

In 1880, scientist Albert Michelson set out to build a device to measure something every 19th century physicist knew just had to be there. The “luminiferous ether” was invisible and pervaded all of space. It helped explain how light traveled, and how electromagnetic waves waved. Ether theory even underpinned Maxwell’s famous equations! One problem: When Alfred Michaelson ran his machine, the ether wasn’t there.

Science historian David Kaiser walks Annie and Science Friday host Ira Flatow through Michaelson’s famous experiment, and explains how a wrong idea led to some very real scientific breakthroughs.

This story first aired on Science Friday.

GUEST

David Kaiser, Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science, Professor of Physics, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

FOOTNOTES

Find out more about the Michelson-Morley experiment on APS Physics.

Read an archival article from the New York Times about the physicists’ experimental “failure.”

CREDITS

This episode of Undiscovered was produced by Annie Minoff and Christopher Intagliata. Our theme music is by I Am Robot And Proud.

  continue reading

30 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Listen to this show while you explore
Play