Curiosity, Science, and Acting with Alan Alda

🔍Alan Alda's curiosity about scientific topics led him to read extensively and eventually host Scientific American Frontiers.

🎭Alda emphasizes the joy of acting and how it allows him to collaborate with people he respects and engage with material he loves.

🚁Alda discusses helicopters and their use in the Korean War, highlighting the difficulty in creating a flying machine without wings.

✈️He explains the physics behind wing design and lift in airplanes, including the Bernoulli effect and angled wings.

📚Alda reflects on his early interest in spiritualism and mental telepathy, which eventually led him to scientific inquiry and reading Scientific American.

What sparked Alan Alda's interest in science?

—Alan Alda's interest in science was sparked by reading extensively, including articles from Scientific American, which led him to host Scientific American Frontiers.

What does Alan Alda love about acting?

—Alan Alda loves acting because it allows him to collaborate with people he respects, engage with material he loves, and perform in front of an audience that gets it.

What did Alan Alda learn about helicopters and airplanes?

—Alan Alda learned about the development of helicopters during the Korean War and the physics behind airplane wing design, including lift and the Bernoulli effect.

How did Alan Alda's curiosity expand from spiritualism to science?

—Alan Alda initially had an interest in spiritualism and mental telepathy, but his curiosity eventually led him to scientific inquiry and reading scientific articles.

What is the significance of angled wings in airplanes?

—Angled wings in airplanes create lift by allowing faster airflow over the top surface, resulting in lower pressure and upward lift to keep the plane airborne.

00:00Alan Alda shares his journey from acting to hosting Scientific American Frontiers.

03:30Alda discusses his early interest in spiritualism and mental telepathy.

07:59He explains the development of helicopters and their use in the Korean War.

09:38Alda delves into airplane wing design and lift, including the Bernoulli effect.

11:55He highlights the joy of acting and collaborating with talented individuals.