Forensic Astronomy
Mystery of Monet Painting Solved... using the Sky
About This Project
Dr. Don Olson is one of the world’s leading experts in “Forensic Astronomy,” which is the science of solving puzzles using the sky. He’s created several special computer programs which map ancient star charts and he augments this data with historical records, letters, photos, weather charts and tidal patterns to determine how and why certain events in history occurred. He’s helped solve hundreds of mysteries from the past, including why The U.S.S Indianapolis sank, where the moon was positioned on Paul Revere’s famous ride, what astronomical anomaly occurred when Edvard Munch painted “The Scream,” and now the exact moment that Claude Monet created a masterpiece that launched the entire Impressionism Movement.
“A Beautiful World” is a news program produced by American Public Media that focuses on inspirational stories from around the world, featuring good news about science, technology, ecology, art, music and medicine. The program is hosted by best-selling author Heather McElhatton, whom listeners may know from her contributions to This American Life, Marketplace and MPR News.