The Music of the Spheres

About This Episode

Ancient philosophers described the movement of the Sun, Moon and planets as “the music of the spheres” — the geometry of the cosmos conceived as proportional mathematical harmony. Today, science is revealing new ways music taps into ancient pathways in the brain, and technology is allowing music to be composed in new and innovative ways. Richard Melville Hall, better known as Moby, talks with Neil about the science of music, and how this intangible art has the power to move us physically and emotionally. Jonathan Coulton discusses writing songs about asteroid mining and the dwarf planet Pluto, and reveals that his song about fractals often makes him cry. Comedian Eugene Mirman is instrumental in providing some good vibrations for this symphony of science.

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