Tycho Brahe’s observations of the Great Comet of 1577 and his discovery of atmospheric refraction led him to reject solid celestial spheres and reassess the structure of the cosmos. Seeking an alternative to both the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems, he developed a geo-heliocentric model in which the Sun orbited the Earth while the planets orbited the Sun, a theory he supported with years of precise measurements, including a (mistaken) parallax for Mars. Though he failed to find definitive proof...
Jun 20, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 4
In 1576, Tycho Brahe was offered something no astronomer had ever received before: an island of his own. On the remote Baltic isle of Hven, Tycho set out to build the most advanced observatory in Europe. But just as construction began, a brilliant comet appeared in the night sky. For Tycho, it was more than a celestial spectacle: it was a chance to test Aristotle, challenge old ideas, and prove that careful observation could overturn centuries of dogma. This episode traces Tycho’s transformation...
Jun 15, 2025•21 min•Season 7Ep. 3
13/06/25 - Episode was removed due to audio errors and reuploaded. Sorry! In 1572, a mysterious new star appeared in the sky, defying the ancient belief that the heavens never changed. Tycho Brahe, a Danish nobleman with a passion for astronomy, set out to uncover the truth. His meticulous observations challenged established ideas and sparked debates among scholars. But Tycho’s journey wasn’t just about science, it was a struggle against family expectations, social norms, and the limits of the t...
Jun 14, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 2
In this episode we trace the early development of magnetism and the compass—from ancient Chinese navigation to the groundbreaking insights of medieval and Renaissance Europe. The episode highlights the work of Peter Peregrinus, a 13th-century scholar whose detailed experiments with magnets laid the foundation for future magnetic science, and Robert Norman, who devised a method to reveal the mysterious “dip” of the magnetic needle. It also explores early efforts to understand magnetic declination...
May 25, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 1
At the start of the 17th century Harvey finally put all of the pieces in place. He had discovered that blood circulates through the body with the heart acting as a pump. Realising that he was undermining a millenia of Galenism, he set out carefully, working to convince his peers of his discovery. He made many public demonstrations to support his findings, meeting both support and controversy. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.soc...
Jan 18, 2025•24 min•Season 6Ep. 7
In 1602, William Harvey joined the College of Physicians to secure his medical career, but behind the scenes, he was conducting bold anatomical research. Through dissections, vivisections, and innovative experiments on blood flow and the heart, Harvey began challenging Galen’s teachings. His relentless curiosity would soon lead to the groundbreaking discovery of blood circulation. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Cr...
Jan 11, 2025•21 min•Season 6Ep. 6
In late 1599, William Harvey, having completed his B.A. at Cambridge, sought further education abroad. His father, a successful businessman, funded his journey to Padua, a renowned center of medical learning. At Padua, Harvey encountered the teachings of Aristotle, particularly the idea of understanding the "final cause" of things, which influenced his approach to medicine. He also studied under Hieronymous Fabricius, who combined Aristotelian philosophy with detailed dissections, shaping Harvey...
Dec 27, 2024•19 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Nov 11, 2024•22 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Realdo Colombo, a former student and colleague of Vesalius, challenged aspects of Galenic anatomy and made significant strides in understanding blood circulation. Through vivisection, Colombo discovered that blood circulates through the lungs, a finding that corrected earlier theories and contributed to a major shift in Renaissance anatomical and physiological studies. His work, though not initially credited, played a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and laid the groundwork for future...
Oct 05, 2024•19 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Jul 19, 2024•24 min•Season 6Ep. 2
The background and early life of the great renaissance anatomist Andreas Vesalius. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Jul 08, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 1
This episode explores the pivotal encounter in Nicolaus Copernicus's later life when he met the young mathematician known as Rheticus. Rheticus, a prodigy from the University of Wittenberg, sought out Copernicus in Frombork, Poland, to learn more about his heliocentric theory. Despite their differences, Rheticus and Copernicus's collaboration that resulted in the publication of Copernicus's groundbreaking work, 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres.' Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gm...
Mar 17, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this episode we delve into the early life of Nicolaus Copernicus, the astronomer who challenged the geocentric model of the universe. From his upbringing in Torun, Poland, to his academic journey at Jagiellonian University and travels to Bologna and Rome, follow Copernicus's passion for astronomy amid societal expectations. Discover the pivotal moments that led to his groundbreaking heliocentric model, which revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@...
Mar 11, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Mar 08, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In the late medieval period, while Europe obsessed over Aristotle's natural philosophy, the Islamic world entered the zenith of astronomical discoveries. In this episode, we explore the remarkable contributions of two great astronomers, al-Tusi and al-Shatir. Amidst the dominance of Ptolemaic astronomy, they embarked on a mission to unravel its lingering problems. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round ...
Mar 05, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In this episode we delve into the life and legacy of the enigmatic Roger Bacon. Once considered a magician with fantastical abilities, Bacon's reputation transformed over the centuries, oscillating between mystical figure and scientific pioneer. Born in 1220, Bacon's journey through Oxford, Paris, and his unexpected entry into the Franciscan order unfolds against the backdrop of a changing Europe. Join us as we explore Bacon's intricate blend of philosophy, optics, and experimental science, shed...
Dec 22, 2023•17 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Perhaps the greatest orginal contribution to science in the medieval period was initiated at Merton College Oxford. A group of scholars worked to mathematise nature and prove new theorems decribing motion. Meanwhile in Paris, another scholar was working on a theory which undermined Aristotle's theories of motion and paved the way for Newtonian Mechanics. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacL...
Oct 25, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In the later medieval period, Europe's bustling new cities developed a new type of institution, The University. In this episode we explore the early university and in particular its relationship with Aristotle's natural philosophy, which would form the core of the curriculum. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licens...
Oct 24, 2023•15 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In the 12th century a young man set out in search of a book. The Almagest, the great work of astronomy had disappeared from western Europe and had long ceased to be read. The young man, Gerard, eventually found the work in Toledo, Spain and translated it into Latin. This story however, is only part of a Europe wide movement, whereby many of the great Greek works would finally become available. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.so...
Jul 21, 2023•15 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Scientific thought was rejuvenated in the 10th century as the Christians in the north came into contact with Islamic culture in Iberia. Gerbert, a monk from Aurillac in Southern France played a key role in this process, introducing to Europe many innovations, such as the abacus, the armillary sphere and new mathematics. In doing so he revitalised teaching, particularly of the quadrivium and demonstrated to the Latins the advanced knowledge of the Greeks and Arabs. Contact: thecompletehistoryofsc...
Jul 19, 2023•16 min•Season 4Ep. 2
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, western Europe fractured into many small petty states. A period of economic contraction coincided with a decline in learning and during the early medieval age Europe entered a nadir. However, the church kept some form of ancient scientific thought alive and figures such as Isidore of Seville and the Venerable Bede worked to preserve this knowledge. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social M...
Jul 14, 2023•17 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In the late 10th, early 11th century two great men debated the causes of natural phenomena. One of them was the greatest philosopher of the age, Ibn Sina, who had refined Aristotle's philosophy into a finely honed system. The other, al-Biruni, was perhaps the greatest polymath of the age, who invented new fields of study and whose devotion to observation was unparalleled. In a series of letters the two men clashed over large cosmological questions and everyday phenomena and their exchange stands...
Mar 26, 2023•26 min•Season 3Ep. 6
While al-Haytham's visual theory was a clear triumph, his work also had a more subtle but profound effect. His treatment of light as a quanitity which was related to but independent of vision was an important step on the path to our modern understanding of optics. In this episode we explore the other parts of his 'Book of Optics' as well as the achievement of his forgotten contemporary Ibn Sahl. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky....
Mar 25, 2023•16 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Tracing the emergence of medicine in the Islamic world and its embrace of Galen, this week's episode explores the progress made in treatments and anatomy by Islamic scientists. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
Mar 24, 2023•15 min•Season 3Ep. 4
The Greek Philosophers had long debated the nature of vision, without any definitive conclusion. They were divided, between the belief that it was either a stimulus entering the eye or a visual ray projected from the eye. This debate however, was finally settled by the great Hasan Ibn Al-Haytham, who developed the first modern theory of vision. In this episode we explore Al-Haytham's optical work as one of the first great experimentalists who investigated the nature of light and his development ...
Jan 14, 2023•20 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Astronomy was king of the sciences in the ancient world, but since the death of Ptolemy progress had all but stalled. Fortunately astronomy was rediscovered by the Arabs, who undertook a huge translation of Greek work into Arabic. This next generation of astronomers venerated Ptolemy but also surpassed him, improving upon his measurements and theories. This episode examines this rediscovery and follows the broad developments in the Islamic world between the 9th and 11th century. Contact: thecomp...
Dec 02, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 2
After the death of Ptolemy and Galen the progress of science in the ancient world started to slow. Roughly between the years 200-800 A.D. very little advances were made in most areas of science and there would be no successors to the great men. Nevertheless the period was one of immense change including the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West and the rise of Christianity. However, there was at least one important figure in the history of science during this era. John Philoponus (c. 490 – c....
Nov 13, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Galen was the greatest medical man in the ancient world. His fame rested upon his abilities as a healer, but also his unparalleled knowledge of the human body. This episode explores Galen's time in Rome where he demonstrated his impressive knowledge of anatomy which was unsurpassed in antiquity. We also investigate Galen's predeccessors Aristotle, Praxagoras, Herophilus and Erasistratus who between them invented the fields of anatomy and physiology. Email: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com C...
Oct 17, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In the 5th century B.C. a new form of medicine emerged in the ancient world. This new 'Hippocratic' medicine emerged to sweep away traditional medicine, at least in learned circles, and would become the basis for the more scientific medicine which would develop in the future. Along the way we will also explore the work of Galen, the greatest doctor of antiquity, and discover how his influence would ensure the triumph of Hippocratic medicine. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky...
Jun 15, 2022•22 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Medicine is the most urgent of all the sciences and for as long as there have been disease, injury and death, humans have attempted to treat it. In this episode we delve into the very early history of medince, going back to the Neolithic Era, before exploring medicne in the worlds first civilisations. Contact: thecompletehistoryofscience@gmail.com BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gethinrichards.bsky.social Music Credit: Folk Round Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons:...
Jun 08, 2022•16 min•Season 2Ep. 4
