Science and Technology Guests on Late Night, Week of September 28

A slight respite from the usual trickle of guests this week, once again courtesy of the Comedy Central Hour of Power.

Tonight on The Daily Show the scheduled guest is Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, a political scientist who works in mathematics, specifically game theory, to develop predictive models for international events.  As this GOOD profile suggests, his work evokes a whole host of reactions, none of them lukewarm.  For many his work verges into the “too good to be true” realm of Asimov’s pscyhohistory (though I believe Dr. Bueno de Mesquita would counter that his models are all mathematics, and psychology doesn’t enter into it).

Wednesday and Thursday The Colbert Report has a strong one-two combination of scientific guests.  Richard Dawkins, noted biologist, author, and savior or irritant (depending on your perspective on atheist advocates) will appear Wednesday.  National Institutes of Health Director (and one who keeps his faith close at hand if not on his sleeve) Francis Collins will appear on Thursday.  Expect Colbert to needle them both.

Check those local listings, but the hour of power runs from 11 to midnight Eastern and Pacific, with repeats throughout the following day (definitely from 7 to 8 p.m., other rerun times vary).  Clips and full episodes come available the day after initial broadcast.