Galileo Galilei, a towering figure in intellectual history, inspired plays, poems, and an opera. Albert Einstein called him "the father of modern physics." Astrophysicist Mario Livio explores Galileo’s groundbreaking contributions to astronomy, mechanics, and the scientific method, while also examining his tragic conflict with the Catholic Church, which led to his condemnation by the Inquisition.

Mario Livio, author of Galileo and the Science Deniers, emphasizes Galileo’s relevance for our world today. In particular, he clarifies the relationship between science and religion and explains why there is no schism between the humanities and the sciences. For Livio, Galileo’s life serves as a potent reminder of the importance of freedom of thought, and though his richly intricate personality was grounded in late- Renaissance Italy, the impact of his enduring contributions to science and thought spans time and cultures.