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Charlotte Talks: Galileo And The Legacy Of Science Denial

Simon & Schuster

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Nearly 400 years ago, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was prosecuted for suggesting that the earth was not, after all, the center of the universe. Today, scientists are facing a skepticism that is strikingly similar to 17th century Italy.

As we face a potential second wave from the coronavirus outbreak, political leaders point to differing studies as the facts surrounding the coronavirus have become a flash point over truth or fake news.

From climate change to vaccines and pandemics, the health of a society is dependent on reliable science and the trust of the science community.

Conspiracy theories, fake documentaries and misinformation abounds, but it’s hard to challenge when the president himself called the outbreak the Democrat’s "new hoax" in late February.

What can we learn from a history of science denial? How is it relevant to our ongoing battle with the coronavirus?

Author and astrophysicist Mario Livio joins us to discuss how the long history of science denial might inform us today.

GUEST

Mario Livio, astrophysicist and author of "Galileo: And The Science Deniers"

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Jesse Steinmetz is Producer of Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins. Before joining WFAE in 2019, he was an intern at WNPR in Hartford, Connecticut and hosted a show at Eastern Connecticut State University.