January 25, 1994

James Trefil Discusses Cities as Ecosystems.

Physicist James Trefil. His new book, "A Scientist in the City," (Doubleday) is a exploration of how the laws of nature and technology came together to make our cities. Trefil starts by looking at cities as natural ecosystems, and then looks at the key scientific discoveries that made cities possible. Trefil has written more than ten books on science, including, "1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Science." Trefil is also a regular commentator for NPR, and he teaches at George Mason University.

22:28

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James Trefil

Host

Terry Gross

Other segments from the episode on January 25, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 25, 1994: Interview with James Trefil; Interview with Don Byron; Review of Benjamin Cheever's book "The Partisan."

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January 25, 1994

17:00

Clarinetist, Jazz Musician, and Klezmer Virtuoso Don Byron

Clarinetist, jazz musician, and klezmer virtuoso Don Byron. He's an unlikely candidate to play klezmer, a product of Eastern European Yiddish culture: Byron is African American and dreadlocked. Byron has become best known for klezmer, but musically he's all over the map: He plays jazz with his Don Byron Quintet, modern classical music with the Semaphore quintet, and he toured Europe last fall with Music for Six Musicians, an Afro-Cuban ensemble. He's also currently writing a classical piece for the avant-garde Kronos Quartet.

Interview

Don Byron

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January 25, 1994

04:30

Some Comic Relief for Serious Times.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "The Partisan" (Atheneum) by Benjamin Cheever.

Review

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Physicist James Trefil. His writings have been praised for bringing the complexities of modern science to the general reader. One of his best-known books, Meditations At Sunset, won wide praise for his ability to explain the wonders of the physical world in ways the layman can comprehend. His other books include The Moment of Creation and Meditations at 10,000 Feet. His latest book, Reading The Mind of God, explores the sequence of events that led to the discovery of universality - the principle that the laws of nature on earth apply throughout the universe.

Interview

James Trefil

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March 1, 2016

06:02

Provocative Book Explores The Connection Between Loneliness And Art

Olivia Laing surveys the landscape of urban alienation in her new book, a work that is part-memoir and part-criticism. Critic Maureen Corrigan says The Lonely City is "absolutely one of a kind."

Review

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July 25, 2013

29:42

A Metro 'Revolution': Cities, Suburbs Do What Washington Can't.

Even as Detroit files for bankruptcy protection, Bruce Katz says many American cities are showing promising signs of renewal. In The Metropolitan Revolution, he writes that, together, cities and suburbs have the power to take on the challenges Washington won't.

Interview

Bruce Katz

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James Trefil Discusses Cities as Ecosystems.

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Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on January 25, 1994

Clarinetist, Jazz Musician, and Klezmer Virtuoso Don Byron

Some Comic Relief for Serious Times.

Transcript

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The Principle of Universality and What it Can Teach Us about "God."

Provocative Book Explores The Connection Between Loneliness And Art

A Metro 'Revolution': Cities, Suburbs Do What Washington Can't.

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