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Does Science Need War?

Does Science Need War?

Brian Cox, Robin Ince and guests ask whether science needs war to drive it.

The Infinite Monkey Cage · BBC Radio 4

July 21, 201439m 42s

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Show Notes

Does Science Need War?

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined on stage by comedian Katy Brand, science writer Philip Ball and medic, author and broadcaster Kevin Fong. They'll be asking whether scientific progress needs the pressures and casualties of war to drive it, or whether some of our biggest scientific breakthroughs, that have resulted from periods of conflict, would have happened anyway? It's a serious topic, but never fear, on the way the intergalactic battles faced in Star Wars, and why only the French could come up with onions as a cure for burns, are all equally seriously investigated.