Aimee Bender’s Origin Lessons
Studio 360 came to the writer Aimee Bender with a commission for a short story on a giant topic: the Big Bang. Before she started writing, Bender decided to bone up on her science: she spoke with Nick Warner, a professor of physics, astronomy, and mathematics at the University of Southern California. You can hear part of their conversation in the audio above.
Then Bender wrote “Origin Lessons” – read to us here by Kevin Pariseau. It’s about a teacher who struggles to explain the beginnings of the universe. He starts his lesson by declaring, “We began all at once, everywhere.”
Produced by Chloe Plaunt, with audio mix by Ave Carrillo.
(Originally aired: December 17, 2010)
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!