Science Friday > Archives > 2004 > August
> August 20, 2004:
Hour Two: Conjoined
Twins / Math and the Mona Lisa
How did Leonardo da Vinci use math to influence the way we see the Mona Lisa? And how does our visual system affect our perception of that, and other, works of art? In this hour, we'll look at the science of looking at art. What your eyes don't admit to seeing may surprise you. Plus, an update on formerly conjoined twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre. Last October, we spoke with two of the twins' doctors at the beginning of a long series of operations that would eventually allow the two boys to lead separate lives. Now that the surgery has been completed, we'll check in with the doctors on how it went, and find out the prospects for these (and other) formerly conjoined twins. |
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The elusive smile of the Mona Lisa, viewed from different
eccentricities.
Did da Vinci play upon tricks of our visual systems to create the famous
smile?
(Images courtesy Margaret Livingstone)
Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern), and share your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).
Guests:
Dr. James Goodrich
Pediatric Neurosurgeon
Montefiore Medical Center
New York, New York
Dr. David Staffenberg
Pediatric Plastic Surgeon
Montefiore Medical Center
New York, New York
***********************
Bulent Atalay
Author, "Math
and the Mona Lisa: The Art and Science of Leonardo daVinci" (Smithsonian
Books, 2004)
Professor, Physics
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Margaret Livingstone
Author, "Vision
and Art: The Biology of Seeing" (Harry N Abrams, 2002)
Professor, Neurobiology
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
This segment produced by Annette Heist and Erica Altman
Archived Audio:
twins
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in RealAudio format
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in Windows Media format
art
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in RealAudio format
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in Windows Media format
streaming audio help
from NPR
Related Links:
Bulent
Atalay Homepage
The
Biology of Seeing: Harvard Neuroscientist Continues Visual Studies Series
October 24
BBC
NEWS | Entertainment | Arts | Mona Lisa smile secrets revealed
The
Mystery of Mona Lisa's Smile Linked to Flickering Eyes
Discovery
Channel :: News :: Mona Lisa Smile: Trick of the Light?
Information
about the Aguirre Twins
October
24, 2003, Hour One: Breast Cancer News / Twins Surgery / Brian Greene
Books/Articles Discussed:
"Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing" by Margaret S. Livingstone. Harry N Abrams, 2002.
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