Planets, the Periodic Table of Elements, and poetry may seem like an eclectic mix. However, scientific breakthroughs were a major influence on Romantic-period writing. This short read and listen from a September 2009 episode of National Public Radio's All Things Considered provides some insight. The clip features Richard Holmes, author of the book The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science. Holmes highlights revelations from his research, noting that the connections between science, art, and romance are exemplified in the work of famous Romantic poets such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and John Keats, who sought inspiration from scientific disciplines. Readers will also find an excerpt of Holmes's book at the link above. Here, Holmes continues to expand on his thesis, noting, "In effect there is Romantic science in the same sense there is Romantic poetry, and often for the same enduring reasons."