CTT Chats | Closer to Truth
  • Celia Deane-Drummond on the Evolution of Wisdom
    Celia Deane-Drummond talks the evolution of wisdom, COVID-19 and the boundary between natural and moral evil, Christian theology, and redeeming sin. She also discusses her book, Shadow Sophia, the second volume in her Evolution of Wisdom series.
    Contributors: Celia Deane-Drummond
  • Mario Livio on Science Denial
    Mario Livio talks Galileo, the Hubble Telescope, modern and historical science denial, and the far future of life in the universe. He also discusses his book, Galileo and the Science Deniers, which provides a fresh interpretation of the life of Galileo Galilei, one of history's greatest and most fascinating scientists, that sheds new light on his discoveries and how he was challenged by science deniers.
    Contributors: Mario Livio
  • Michael Ruse on Evolution and Philosophy of Biology
    Philosopher Michael Ruse talks about the philosophy of biology, evolution, the concept of human superiority, and why there is anything at all. Ruse's new book, A Philosopher Looks at Human Beings, is now available for purchase.
    Contributors: Michael Ruse
  • Daniel Dennett on Consciousness and Virtual Immortality
    Daniel Dennett discusses the nature of consciousness, if consciousness is an illusion, artificial intelligence and virtual immortality, and how he covers all of this in his book, Just Deserts: Debating Free Will, co-authored with Gregg D. Caruso.
    Contributors: Daniel Dennett
  • Gregg Caruso on Free Will
    Gregg Caruso discusses the philosophy of free will, if free will is an illusion, free will and moral responsibility, consciousness, libertarian free will versus compatibilism, and how he covers all of this in his new book Just Deserts: Debating Free Will, co-authored with Daniel Dennett.
    Contributors: Gregg Caruso
  • Martin Rees on the Future of Cosmology
    Given the remarkable advances in precision cosmology over the past few decades, can we forecast what we might discover in 10 or 20 years or even 30 years at mid-century? What are the categories of human destruction and what are the odds of each? What is the far far future of life and sentience in the cosmos? The UK's Astronomer Royal discusses these questions and more. 
    Contributors: Martin Rees
  • Daniel Dennett on Philosophy of Biology
    Daniel Dennett discusses the philosophy of biology, evolutionary causation, the importance of evolution, and why there is anything at all.
    Contributors: Daniel Dennett
  • Wendy Freedman on the Hubble Constant
    Astronomer Wendy Freedman sits down with Closer To Truth to discuss her work on the Hubble Constant, Standard Candles, the expansion of the universe, and the Giant Magellan Telescope.
    Contributors: Wendy Freedman
  • Leonard Mlodinow on Stephen Hawking and Physics
    Theoretical physicist Leonard Mlodinow, who spent nearly two decades collaborating with Stephen Hawking, joined Robert for a live discussion about his new book, Stephen Hawking: A Memoir of Friendship and Physics. Click here to buy the book. 
    Contributors: Leonard Mlodinow
  • Michio Kaku on the God Equation
    What if there is a single theory that can explain the physical universe? Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku discusses his new book, The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything.
    Contributors: Michio Kaku
  • Jill Tarter on Alien Intelligences
    Jill Tarter, former Director of the Center for SETI Research discusses the search for alien life, alien technology and technosignatures, the Fermi Paradox, risks from encountering alien civilizations, and the future of SETI and mankind.
    Contributors: Jill Tarter
  • Julian Barbour on the Direction of Time
    Why, when most laws of physics allow for it to flow forward and backward, does it only go forward? What if time moves in two directions? Julian Barbour discusses his new book, The Janus Point: A New Theory of Time.
    Contributors: Julian Barbour
  • David Brin on the Future of Humanity
    What will humanity look like 1,000 years? 10,000 years? One million years? Futurist and science fiction author David Brin discusses the future of humanity.
    Contributors: David Brin
  • Roger Walsh on Consciousness and Wisdom
    Roger Walsh, Professor of Psychiatry and Philosophy at UC Irvine talks consciousness, the search for wisdom, the science of meditation, the mystery of the universe and reality, and the merging of Eastern and Western philosophy.
    Contributors: Roger Walsh
  • George Smoot on Dark Matter
    Astrophysicist George Smoot discusses the history of precision cosmology, his work in gravitational lensing, the existence of dark matter, and the future of astrophysics.
    Contributors: George Smoot
  • Ken Olum on Quantum Mechanics and Time
    Ken Olum, Research Professor at Tufts University talks cosmic inflation, gravitational waves, string theory, and the mystery of the Hubble Constant versus the measurements science has taken of our local universe.
    Contributors: Ken Olum
  • Daniel Dennett on Free Will
    Is free will an illusion? If not, how does this impact moral responsibility? Philosopher Daniel Dennett discusses his new book, Just Deserts: Debating Free Will, co-authored with Gregg D. Caruso.
    Contributors: Daniel Dennett
  • Robert Stickgold on the Mystery of Dreams
    Why do we dream? What is the purpose of sleep? Neuroscientist Robert Stickgold discusses his new book, When Brains Dream: Exploring the Science and Mystery of Sleep.
    Contributors: Robert Stickgold
  • Donald Hoffman on the Nature of Reality
    Donald Hoffman discusses the nature of reality, what is real, his theory of consciousness, and how this theory affects everything from artificial intelligence to alien life and the Fermi Paradox.
    Contributors: Donald Hoffman
  • Rebecca Goldstein on the Meaning of Matter
    Rebecca Goldstein discusses the meanings of "matter", philosophy in science, the hard problem of consciousness, and her decades of experience as a fiction and non-fiction writer.
    Contributors: Rebecca Goldstein
  • Charles Tart on ESP and Parapyschology
    Charles Tart reflects on the last six decades of parapsychology, the study of alleged psychic phenomena. He also talks altered states, ESP, telepathy, consciousness, and the future of studying areas beyond traditional science.
    Contributors: Charles Tart

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