Recap

Our Universe

Art spoke with physicist Sean Carroll about the origin and nature of the universe we live in. Carroll discussed the Big Bang, a scientific theory which proposes the universe came about from a tremendously dense and hot state about 14 billion years ago. He provided evidence for this theory, pointing out that the Big Bang model has been "established beyond reasonable doubt."

Carroll covered other cosmological and theoretical physics topics, including the accelerating expansion of the universe, how space and time came into existence, 'quantum gravity,' parallel universes, string theory, and time travel. He also talked about the recent discovery of an Earth-like planet orbiting a red dwarf star 20 light-years away from our solar system (article). Carroll said it was unlikely there would be the kind of life there that we could find by using radio telescopes.

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Dying Bees Video

Coast listener Larry shot this video of bees dying (slightly graphic) in a grocery store parking lot. About the video Larry writes: "On April 16, Doris and I were leaving a local grocery store, when I noticed a bee. I was glad to see it, until Doris pointed out that all around us there were bees trying, and failing to stay aloft. The parking lot was covered with them. Most were struggling to crawl, or regain their feet. It was truly heart-wrenching. On our way to our car, we noticed that there was a whole swarm dying at our feet. I got out my video camera, squatted next to my car, and took some footage of their struggles. To us, it seemed that the bees were reacting to an airborne toxin."