About this episode
Dave Talbot presents the revolutionary theories of Immanuel Velikovsky, whose controversial work "Worlds in Collision" challenged established astronomy and geology by proposing that recent catastrophic planetary encounters shaped human history and mythology. Talbot explains Velikovsky's evidence that Venus was once a comet ejected from Jupiter, causing worldwide catastrophes when it passed near Earth before settling into its current orbit. The discussion covers how this cosmic collision theory explains similar flood and fire myths found in cultures across the globe, along with geological evidence of rapid planetary changes. Art Bell explores with Talbot how Velikovsky's ideas, though initially rejected by mainstream science, have gained support from new discoveries in plasma physics and comparative mythology. They examine Velikovsky's additional theory that Earth was once a satellite of Saturn during a proposed "Golden Age," when our planet experienced different physical conditions. The conversation reveals how Velikovsky's interdisciplinary approach, combining astronomy, geology, archaeology, and ancient texts, offers alternative explanations for Earth's history that mainstream science has struggled to address. This episode showcases how challenging established scientific paradigms requires both courage and comprehensive evidence from multiple fields of study.