The Grand Scheme of Things

Bill McKim (TGST@bell.net)

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NATURE
MONTHLY SERIES

What Science can tell us about our place in the universe. In addition to being educational, I have been told that it is a great way to help you go to sleep. Please feel free to use it for either purpose and spread the word. Some great banjo playing too.

EPISODE 1

Episode 1 - The Nature of Science: How it is different from other ways of knowing

In the first episode I introduce you this series of podcasts by explaining what Science is and how to distinguish it from other ways of understanding the world. I talk about whether the universe obeys natural laws, and discuss whether anything happens in nature that is not caused including chance, complexity, chaos, the butterfly effect and the weirdness of quantum physics

26 min
EPISODE 2

Episode 2 - Emergence: How everything in the universe is connected

In this episode I will tell you about how and why Science is organized into different Disciplines and how the knowledge of all the different Scientific disciplines is related by the phenomenon of emergence. We will see why the whole is more than the sum of its parts and why the properties of an object can be different from the properties of the elements it is made from. After all, our minds are created by the interaction of nerve cells in your brain, and your brain and body and all lining matter emerged from the interaction of certain organic molecules on this earth about three and a half billion years ago. These molecules emerged from he interaction of atoms, which emerged from sub atomic particles, that emerged from something more mysterious, loops or strings that were created by the big bang 13.7 Billion years ago.

31 min
EPISODE 3

Episode 3 - Past, Present and Future: The stubbornly Persistent Illusion

Is time real and universal, or is it just an illusion? Newton Vs. Einstein and other hot topics Including the Great Second Law of Thermodynamics.

37 min
EPISODE 4

Episode 4 - Free Will: History and Philosophy

Do we really have Freedom to choose? Here I look at the origins of the belief in Free Will and why It Just may be an illusion.

27 min
EPISODE 5

Episode 5 - Free Will: Science

What Science can say about Free Will

34 min
EPISODE 6

Episode 6 - A Short History of You: From Big Bang to Cells

In this episode I describe the events that happened from the big bang to the advent of cells. Hear about how subatomic particles formed hydrogen atoms and how these atoms were transformed into the elements inside of stars. Find out how these elements became the molecules that learned how to replicate themselves, and how they eventually became living cells.

32 min
EPISODE 7

Episode 7 - A Short History of You: Genes to Proteins

In this episode we examine not only how DNA can replicate itself, but how genes build bodies and run them. DNA is simply a long chain of molecules called nucleotides.These chains are a code for the construction of proteins that are ling chains of amino acids. A protein is a long chain of amino acids strung together in a specific order. These chains fold up into large molecules that can have many properties. They build our bodies and control our biochemistry. Genes control the proteins by determining which proteins are created, how many, when they are created, and where in the body they are created. Find out how lifeless molecules can make a living thing, like you.

41 min
EPISODE 8

Episode 8 - A Short History of You: Single Cell to Mammal

In this episode I touch on the highlights of your development from a single celled organism to becoming a mammal including the invention of sex, becoming a multicelled organism, moving out of the ocean to wetlands then dry land, the invention of legs, and the displacement of the dinosaurs, with a brief stop to talk about extinction events. All with time for a little banjo break or two.

26 min
EPISODE 9

Episode 9 - A Short History of You: Mammals to Modern Humans

Here we trace the evolution of humans from mammals to modern humans. The discussion covers the extinction of the dinosaurs and how mammals took over their environmental niches; the emergence of primates from the pro simians to monkeys, apes, chimpanzees, and finally the hominids and hominins The discussion includes the discovery of Lucy and the fossilized footprints of A. afarensis, Other archaic species of Homo are mentioned including habilis, ergaster, erectus, heidelbergensis, neanderthalis, the denisovans and floresnsis and the recent discoveries of hominin remains in a cave on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The evidence of interbreeding between many of these hominin species is discussed as well as speculation as to why we humans, Homo sapiens, are the only species of Homo remaining..

32 min
EPISODE 10

Eposode 10 - A Short History of You: Migrations, Tools and Art

In this episode I begin to explore what makes us different from all other animals; how we developed language and abstract thought, art and creativity. We look at the sudden appearance of complex tools and sophisticated art 40 to 50 thousand years ago.

36 min
EPISODE 11

Episode 11 - A Short History of You: The Paleolithic Renaissance, Language and Agriculture

In this episode I discuss the history of tool making and artistic expression in hominin species over the last 2.5 million years which culminated in the Paleolithic Renaissance 50.000 years ago. I suggest that this advancement was a result of the development of modern language. I also talk about the Neanderthals, Agriculture and writing.

32 min

See All Season 1 (11)

What Science can tell us about our place in the universe. In addition to being educational, I have been told that it is a great way to help you go to sleep. Please feel free to use it for either purpose and spread the word. Some great banjo playing too.

Creator

Bill McKim (TGST@bell.net)
Episodes

12
Seasons

1
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 The Grand Scheme of Things
Show Website

The Grand Scheme of Things