Adam Hart-Davis – författare

TV personality Adam Hart-Davis meets 14 of the world’s leading scientists to discuss their work, their passions, and those elusive ground-breaking moments in their lives.

This is a book that shows how science can explain the world that we inherited and shape the world that we would like to leave for future generations.

Science''s long history is studded with ''eureka years'', when radical and brilliant ideas emerged from the maelstrom of mad, bad and dangerous thinking to transform the way we look at ourselves and our universe. Veteran broadcaster and polymath Adam Hart-Davis guides us through 16 of these pivotal years, examining the ways in which they revolutionised our scientific understanding.He begins with 1665, uncovering the truth behind the legendary story of Newton''s discovery of gravity; and explores how two industrial breakthroughs in 1769 - the spinning frame and the steam engine - were connected with a robot that could apparently play chess. In 555 BC, he asks if Pythagoras really came up with the mathematical theorem that bears his name; and in 1965, he considers how the Cold War and advances in military technology fuelled the race to the moon.Back in 1650, Adam finds out how the opening of England''s first coffeehouse signalled the beginning of a new age of reason; while another everyday invention - the motorcar - sped onto the scene in 1893 thanks to groundbreaking developments by Henry Ford, Karl Benz and Gottfried Daimler. And in 1905, a young man called Albert Einstein changed our view of space and time with one of the most important ideas in modern physics - how''s that for a ''eureka year''!Plus, special episode ''The Eureka Year at Christmas'' delves into the technology of the festive season, as Adam finds a dazzling description of the first Christmas tree lit by electric light bulbs, peers at X-rays of teddy bear skeletons and pulls a cracker in the name of scientific investigation.Full of amazing stories, told with Adam Hart-Davis'' trademark enthusiasm and humour, this entertaining series guides us through some of the astounding moments that changed our world.© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution LtdPresented by Adam Hart-DavisProduced by John Byrne and Mary Ward-LoweryFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 9-30 October 2004 (Series 1), 14-28 January 2006 (Series 2), 29 August-19 September 2007 (Series 3), 11 July-1 August 2008 (Series 4), 26 December 2008 (''The Eureka Years at Christmas'')

The comedy panel game where all the questions are about the guest hostWelcome to The Personality Test, the panel show in which a brand new host takes the chair for every episode to present a quiz entirely themed around themselves. Each gets to run the show by their own rules, devising topics and queries based on their life, whims, fancies and past glories. Among the showbiz celebrities in the hot seat are Gyles Brandreth, Jennie Bond, Antony Worrall Thompson, Esther Rantzen, Janet Street-Porter and Edwina Currie, while the rounds include Love It Or Hate It, True or False, That Special Day and Life''s a Pitch.Is John Sergeant a fan of Julia Roberts? Would Greg Dyke give Radio 4 just a minute, or leave it on a desert island? And does Claire Rayner have a penchant for jelly babies? Having spent a week swotting up on their host, the contestants must tackle these questions and more, as they do their best to amuse, entertain, charm, flatter - and occasionally, flirt outrageously - in a bid to chalk up the points and win the game. Battling it out are regular panellists and comedy heavyweights Alan Carr, Sue Perkins, Robert Ince, Lucy Porter, Will Smith and Carrie Quinlan.Intriguing and challenging, riotous and revealing, this unique panel show shines a fascinating spotlight on the interests and enthusiasms of your favourite personalities - and keeps you laughing along the way.Production creditsWritten by Richard Turner, Simon Littlefield and Kieron QuirkeDevised and produced by Aled EvansSeries 1 presented by: John Sergeant, Greg Dyke, Gyles Brandreth and Jennie BondWith Sue Perkins, Alan Carr, Lucy Porter, Will Smith, Robin Ince and Natalie HaynesSeries 2 presented by: Roy Hattersley, Rick Wakeman, Adam Hart-Davis, Antony Worrall Thompson, Claire Rayner and Esther RantzenWith Sue Perkins, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Mark Dolan and Will SmithSeries 3 presented by: Janet Street-Porter, Lorraine Kelly, Andrew Neill, Edwina Currie, Toyah Willcox and Eve PollardWith Sue Perkins, Will Smith, Nick Doody, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Carrie Quinlan and Dan TetsellFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 July-2 August 2006 (Series 1), 7 December 2006-11 January 2007 (Series 2), 5 July-9 August 2007 (Series 3)© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.