I have a new article posted on my Guardian blog,
“A new adaptation of Brecht's Galileo opens in Stratford-upon-Avon on Thursday. It's impressive not only for the drama but for its demonstration of how to engage people in science
Bertolt Brecht's Galileo has probably brought the tale of Galileo and his trial to more people than any single science or history book ever written. By adapting the story into a tragedy, Brecht explores many facets of the interface between belief and evidence.
These include not just religious faith versus scientific evidence but also Galileo's internal struggle to rationalise his recantation, even though he knows his observations are true.
Having written my own take on Galileo in The Sky's Dark Labyrinth, I have a tremendous affection for this story and the charismatic Italian who discovered the mountains of the moon, the stars of the Milky Way, and the moons of Jupiter. ...”
You can read the full post here.