Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore’s social issues of the day with guests.

We live in a time where technology has made information more readily available than ever. Curiosity has been the main driver of human discovery since the beginning of time but when faced with a barrage of information, have we stopped wanting to know more? 

In this episode of In Your Opinion, senior columnist Rohit Brijnath speaks with celebrated physicist, educator and rock star Professor Brian Cox. Currently on a world tour with his live show, Emergence, he takes us on a journey across the cosmos, civilisation and human curiosity all while attempting to answer the question: how do we find wonder?

Emergence will be in Singapore on June 10. 

Highlights (click/tap above):  

4:46 Should people be more curious? 

8:51 Keeping a sense of wonder through life

10:36 Are there aliens out there? 

15:38 There are things I don’t actually know

19:55 Kepler, Galileo and Einstein around a table

29:13 Two weeks in space is ideal

32:46 Why world leaders should go to space

36:11 Are there mysteries that should remain? 

38:29 What to look for in the night sky

41:31 Can you see planets in Singapore?

42:06 Is an uncurious person a failure?

47:21 Brian Cox’s top musical highlight

55:06 The AI revolution and social change

Books Professor Brian Cox recommended:

The Six-Cornered Snowflake by Joha...