The Human Cosmos – with Jo Marchant

Psychologists have discovered that experiencing awe inspiring moments change us as humans. Planets and stars have been providing many such moments through human history, but new technology might be changing our relationship with the night sky.
Jo’s book “The Human Cosmos” is out now – https://geni.us/kJCTkA
Watch the Q&A: https://youtu.be/zIF_GrfRxrI

From Medieval monks grappling with the nature of time and Tahitian sailors navigating by the stars, to discoveries of how light reveals the chemical composition of the sun and Einstein’s work on spacetime, humanity has always been inextricably linked to the wider cosmos.

Humans have been in awe of the cosmos for the last 20,000 years. Our innate relationship with the stars shaped who we are. Our art, religious beliefs, social status, scientific advances and even our biology.

Jo Marchant, PhD, is an award-winning journalist, speaker and author of the New York Times bestseller ‘Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body’ (https://geni.us/pPrwNi). Her writing explores the nature of humanity and our universe, from the science of the mind-body connection and the mysteries of past civilisations to the awesome power of the night sky.

This talk and Q&A was recorded by the Royal Institution on 3 November 2020.

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