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Science Friday > Archives > 2002 > October > October 11, 2002:
Hour Two: New Solar
System Object Discovered / Steven Pinker's 'The Blank Slate'
What makes us who we are? In his new book, "The Blank Slate: The
Modern Denial of Human Nature," psychologist Steven Pinker argues
that much of who we are is in our genes. In this hour of Science Friday,
guest host Paul Raeburn talks with Pinker about his book, and his
thoughts on the intersection of biology and sociology.
Plus, scientists have discovered the biggest object in the solar
system since Pluto. The object, dubbed 'Quaoar,' is roughly 1250 km
in diameter -- about the size of Pluto's moon Charon. It's about 6
billion kilometers away from Earth. Quaoar is being classified as
a Kuiper belt object, not a planet -- but it's still the largest object
to be found in the solar system in decades. We'll talk about the find.
Call in with your comments and questions at 1-800-989-8255, and share
your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).
Guests:
Charles Liu
Astrophysicist
Department of Astrophysics
and Hayden Planetarium
American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York
Steven Pinker
Peter de Florez Professor
of Psychology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Author: "How
the Mind Works"; "The
Language Instinct";
"The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature"
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
Hubble
Spots the Biggest World Since Pluto
Caltech
Astronomers Discover Quaoar, a Planet-Sized Object in the Solar System
Quaoar
Q&A
Science
Friday, Feb 11 2000: Planet Pluto?
Unofficial
Web Page about Steven Pinker
EDGE
3rd Culture: A Talk With Steven Pinker
Edge:
A BIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN NATURE
October
17, 1997: Steven Pinker
January
30, 1998, Hour 1:Carbon Emissions and Lifestyle / Genes
February
10, 1995, Hour Two:Biology of Language
This segment produced by Annette Heist
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