The seven ages of science. 4/7 Age of inspiration.

Radio documentary presented by Lisa Jardine who traces the evolution of scientific endeavour in Britain over the last four centuries. In this episode she explores the 19th century age of inspiration. She begins in the Natural History Museum with a fossilized ichthyosaur found by palaentologist, Mary Anning, who is then discussed with the curator, Sandra Chapman. Lisa Jardine mentions the prosperity of the early 19th century middle classes and their desire for reassurance and inspiration. Author, Tracy Chevalier, talks about Mary Anning and how people travelled to Lyme Regis to see the fossils. Anning's correspondence shows that she sold fossils to many well known scientists, read their work and wrote to them with her own ideas. At least half the fossils found at this time were hers. Hugh Torrens, Emeritus Professor of History of Science, discusses how the expertise on fossil finds was based in Paris with scientists like Georges Cuvier. However, Anning often argued against scientists of the day and this is explored. The existence of fossils also contradicted current theological views. Historians, Aileen Fyfe and Rebecca Stott discuss this. Many of those collecting and researching were men of the cloth. Nineteenth century Britain had a great interest in the possibilities of new sciences, such as the telegraph and electricity. Science writer, Phillip Ball, explains how the possibility of sending coded messages invisibly seemed like a miracle. Science historian, Patricia Fara, talks about how electricity and magnetism were viewed at the time, particularly with regard to James Clerk Maxwell, and how he began to deal with concepts that couldn't be easily visualised. A discussion on electro-magnetic fields follows against a background of the aesthetics of physics. Lisa Jardine sees this as a time when scientists were enthusiastic to solve mysteries. Rebecca Stott talks about the physician, Robert Grant, and the beginnings of evolutionary theory. The debate was begun earlier, in 1844, with the publication of the book 'Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation', written anonymously and seen as speculative natural history. People found evolution shocking but also astonishing. Darwin's 'Origin of Species' is discussed, including how his language was accessible - possibly one of the reasons why it was so popular (unlike Maxwell's work which revolved around maths). It is noticed that there was a shift in 19th century sentiment towards realising that big, inspirational ideas could come from science as well as theology.