en-us Thu, 29 May 2008 09:28:08 -0400 Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has been a source of continual fascination. It is one of our nearest neighbours in space, though it takes about a year to get there. It is very inhospitable with high winds racing across extremely cold deserts. But it is spectacular, with the highest volcano in the solar system and a giant chasm that dwarfs the Grand Canyon. For centuries there has been fierce debate about whether there is life on Mars and from the 19th century it was even thought there might be a system of canals on the planet. This insatiable curiosity has been fuelled by writers like HG Wells and CS Lewis and countless sci-fi films about little green men. So what do we know about Mars ? its conditions, now and in the past? What is the evidence that there might be water and thus life on Mars? And when might we expect man to walk on its surface? Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:35:28 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/downloadtrial/radio4/inourtime/inourtime_20070111-0900_40_pc.mp3 442804 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080131-1300.mp3 Melvyn Bragg reveals the marvel and scientific endeavor of the Renaissance court of Rudolf II in Prague. He is joined by Peter Forshaw, Postdoctoral Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Exeter; Howard Hotson, Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Oxford and Adam Mosley, Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Wales, Swansea. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:32:19 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080131-1300.mp3 1014426 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080207-1128.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the varying perceptions of the social contract theory - including the ideas of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau - with his guests Melissa Lane, Senior University Lecturer in History at Cambridge University; Susan James, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London and Karen O’Brien, Professor of English Literature at the University of Warwick. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:32:12 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080207-1128.mp3 1025354 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080214-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg examines the history and the meaning behind one of the world's best known icons, the Statue of Liberty. He is joined by Robert Gildea, Professor of Modern History at Oxford University; Kathleen Burk, Professor of American History at University College London and John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Westminster. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:32:10 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080214-1130.mp3 1038745 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080221-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg considers the mind-blowing concept of the Multiverse with his guests: Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society and Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge; Fay Dowker, Reader in Theoretical Physics at Imperial College and Bernard Carr, Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Queen Mary, University of London. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:32:07 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080221-1130.mp3 1049586 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080228-1120.mp3 Melvyn Bragg explores the dramatic themes and history behind one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, "King Lear". He is joined by Jonathan Bate, Professor of English Literature at the University of Warwick; Katherine Duncan-Jones, Tutorial Fellow in English at Somerville College, Oxford; and Catherine Belsey, Research Professor in English at the University of Wales, Swansea. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:32:04 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080228-1120.mp3 1060448 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080306-1245.mp3 Melvyn Bragg explores the life and achievements of Ada Lovelace, daughter of Byron and prophet of the computer age. With him to discuss the "enchantress of numbers" are Patricia Fara, Fellow of Clare College and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University; Doron Swade, Visiting Professor in the History of Computing at Portsmouth University and John Fuegi, Research Fellow in Media and Gender Studies at the Universities of Stanford and Maryland. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:32:01 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080306-1245.mp3 1074034 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080313-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg delves into the rich and complex world of Greek mythology. He is joined by Nick Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Classics at Royal Holloway, University of London; Richard Buxton, Professor of Greek Language and Literature at the University of Bristol and Mary Beard, Professor of Classics at Cambridge University. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:59 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080313-1130.mp3 1082541 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080320-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the rich and radical ideas of the 19th century Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, with John Lippitt, Professor of Ethics and Philosophy of Religion at the University of Hertfordshire; Clare Carlisle, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool; and Jonathan Ree, Visiting Professor at Roehampton University and at the Royal College of Art. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:57 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080320-1130.mp3 1093149 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080327-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the momentous historical event of the dissolution of the monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII with his guests: Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University; Diane Purkiss, Fellow and Tutor at Keble College, Oxford; and George Bernard, Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Southampton. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:55 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080327-1130.mp3 1104203 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080403-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses Newton's Laws of Motion - the three fundamental laws of physics that put man on the moon. He is joined by guests Simon Schaffer, Professor in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Darwin College; Raymond Flood, University Lecturer in Computing Studies and Mathematics and Senior Tutor at Kellogg College, University of Oxford and Rob Iliffe, Professor of Intellectual History and History of Science at the University of Sussex. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:50 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080403-1130.mp3 1116434 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080410-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the Norman Yoke: the idea that the Battle of Hastings sparked the cruel oppression of Anglo-Saxon liberties by a foreign ruling class. He is joined by Sarah Foot, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Christ Church, Oxford; Richard Gameson, Professor in the Department of History at Durham University and Matthew Strickland, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Glasgow. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:48 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080410-1130.mp3 1126061 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080417-1142.mp3 Unfortunately, for copyright reasons, this week's edition of the programme is not available to download. However, if you want to listen to it again, you can find 'In Our Time' on the radio 4 website at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:44 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080417-1142.mp3 1139947 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080424-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg explores the philosophical concept of materialism with his guests this week - Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London; Caroline Warman, Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford; and Anthony O’Hear, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Buckingham. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:41 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080424-1130.mp3 1148682 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080501-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the Enclosures of the 18th century that underpinned the agricultural revolution. He is joined by Rosemary Sweet, Director of the Centre for Urban History at the University of Leicester; Murray Pittock, Bradley Professor of English Literature at the University of Glasgow and Mark Overton, Professor of Economic and Social History at the University of Exeter. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:36 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080501-1130.mp3 1159177 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080508-1130.mp3 Melvyn Bragg delves into the long and varied history of the brain with his three guests -Vivian Nutton, Professor of the History of Medicine at University College London; Jonathan Sawday, Professor of English Studies at the University of Strathclyde; and Marina Wallace, Professor at the University of the Arts, London, Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:32 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080508-1130.mp3 1169692 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080515-0755.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the amazing discovery of the Library at Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire. He is joined by Eleanor Robson, Senior Lecturer at Cambridge University and Vice-Chair of the British Institute for the Study of Iraq; Karen Radner, Lecturer in the Ancient Near Eastern History at University College London; and Andrew George, Professor of Babylonian at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:31:30 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080515-0755.mp3 1181537 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080522-1115.mp3 Melvyn Bragg discusses the Black Death with Miri Rubin, Professor of Medieval and Early Modern History at Queen Mary, University of London; Samuel Cohn, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Glasgow; and Paul Binski, Professor of the History of Medieval Art at Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:30:55 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080522-1115.mp3 1191514 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080529-1137.mp3 Melvyn Bragg explores the mathematical concept of probability with his three guests: Marcus du Sautoy, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford; Colva Roney-Dougal, Lecturer in Pure Mathematics at the University of St Andrews; and Ian Stewart, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:30:51 -0400 http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/iot_20080529-1137.mp3 1201202