Charles Murray locates some 4000 eminent persons and asks of the available biographical data: what explains their super-significant contributions? His answers in this 2003 conversation, are fascinating and surprising.

That is the basic question of paleontology. Here, from a discussion in 2004, we are joined by some leading members of that scientific discipline who track how homo sapiens (us!) evolved and ultimately won out over all other hominid competitors.

Our guests are Susan Clancy, psychologist from Harvard, and Paul Kurtz, founder of the Committee For The Investigation Of The Paranormal (PSICOP). The great modern myth of alien abduction is traced, examined, evaluated and interpreted by these two expert investigators who have many strange stories to tell.

Timothy Ferris, a great science journalist and astrophysics specialist, matches Carl Sagan – who was his friend and colleague – in his capacity to make the ultimate sing and “zing.” A very good time was had by all on this particular night in 2007.

In 2006, three scientists join us to explain the biotech revolution they helped to mount – and its consequences in medicine, industry and in our understanding of organic life itself.