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The EssayScience NotesEpisodes

    Wind

    5/5James Burke leads us via steam engines and iron coffins to the modern orchestra.

    Ivories

    4/5James Burke touches on pine trees, chintz, bowler hats – and ends up on the ivories.

    Impression

    3/5James Burke connects Italian electricity to Debussy via a baron's seances and your fridge.

    Romance

    2/5James Burke links planetary orbits, the teeny-weeny and fake Scottish literature.

    Enlighten

    1/5Broadcaster James Burke links organisms that might not exist to a freemason’s opera.