Does infinity exist?

Discovery

BBC

Science, Technology

4.3 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 June 2019

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“Is anything in the Universe truly infinite, or is infinity something that only exists in mathematics?” This question came from father and son duo from Edinburgh in Scotland, Tom and Sorely Watson. First, we investigate the concept of infinity in mathematics with a story of mathematics, music and murder from Steven Strogatz from the Cornell University. Did you know that there are some infinities that are bigger than others? We discuss the mind-bending nature of infinity with mathematician Eugenia Cheng, author of Beyond Infinity. Next we turn to physics to see if we can find something in the Universe that is truly infinite. Theoretical physicist Sean Carroll from Caltech University discusses the infinitely small inside subatomic particles. Plus cosmologist Andrew Pontzen from University College London travels into the heart of a black hole to see if we can find a something that is infinitely dense. But if we’re looking for something that is infinite, how about the Universe itself? We find out how physicists measure the shape of the Universe, with the help of an orange and a game of Asteroids. However, if the Universe is not infinite, and it has an edge, what is on the other side? Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford Producer: Michelle Martin (Photo: The Infinity symbol in an exploding cloud of data. Credit: Wigglestick/Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast and trust me you'll get there in a moment but if you're a comedy fan
0:05.2	I'd really like to tell you a bit about what we do. I'm Julie Mackenzie and I commission comedy
0:10.1	podcast at the BBC. It's a bit of a dream job really. Comedy is a bit of a dream job really.
0:13.0	Comedy is a fantastic joyous thing to do because really you're making people laugh,
0:18.0	making people's days a bit better, helping them process, all manner of things.
0:22.0	But you know, I also know that comedy is really
0:24.3	subjective and everyone has different tastes. So we've got a huge range of comedy on offer from
0:29.8	satire to silly, shocking to soothing, profound to just general pratting about.
0:35.0	So if you fancy a laugh, find your next comedy at BBC Sounds. Welcome back to the curious cases where we answer your questions using the power of science.
0:51.5	And also more importantly, maths, which is a subsection of science.
0:56.4	I'm not so sure about that. Hannah, so this is an episode for you where we'll be
1:00.0	tackling our biggest case yet.
1:02.6	And it all starts with this question from father and son Joe in Edinburgh and Scotland.
1:06.9	Sawley, aged 10 and Tom, aged adult, that was his description.
1:11.4	Yes.
1:12.4	Is anything in the real physical universe as we
1:15.0	currently understand it truly infinite or is infinity something that exists
1:19.7	only an abstract stuff like mathematics? Well obviously I be excited about this one and I'm terrified.
1:26.0	Well don't be because we're going to love it Adam and for that reason we are devoting
1:30.3	this entire episode to our eternal quest to understand infinity.
1:35.0	Okay, tell me everything.
1:38.0	Today's never-ending tale of infinity begins with mathematics, music and murder.
	...

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