Summary
Faced with one cake and eight hungry people, it’s pretty obvious how maths underpins reality. But as mathematics gets further from common sense and into seemingly abstract territory, nature still seems to obey its rules - whether in the orbit of a planet, the number of petals on a flower, or the structure of an atom.
But what exactly is the relationship between mathematics and reality? That’s the impossibly difficult question CrowdScience has been set this week by our listener Sergio in Peru. It’s one that’s been pondered by humans for millennia: the Greek philosopher Pythagoras believed “All is number”.
Is maths a human construct to help us make sense of reality - a tool, a model, a language? Does maths create its own reality? Or is it reality itself?
CrowdScience explores these questions with the help of experts from the fields of philosophy, mathematics and science: Dr Eleanor Knox, Dr Eugenia Cheng, Professor Lucie Green, Alex Bellos and Stefano Centineo.
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Produced by Cathy Edwards for the BBC World Service
(Photo: A young woman with her eyes closed standing in front of chalkboard, working out maths formulas. Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. I think I've got it. |
| 0:35.0 | I've got it. |
| 0:40.0 | Put it in focus. |
| 0:44.0 | Right, please may I see Neptune. |
| 0:47.0 | Are you ready for this? |
| 0:50.0 | This is crowd science from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:53.0 | I'm Marnie Chesterton, and I'm with amateur astronomer Mike Maynell, |
| 0:57.0 | peering towards the edge of our solar system to find the planet Neptune, which isn't easy. Neptune is invisible to the naked eye. |
| 1:06.1 | Even with an impressive telescope we can barely make it out. |
| 1:10.1 | Can you see anything at all through the eye places? |
| 1:12.1 | Yeah, I can see a little white star. |
| 1:16.6 | That's Neptune. |
| 1:18.2 | Oh, yes. |
| 1:19.8 | That's Neptune. |
| 1:20.8 | It is. |
| 1:22.3 | How many billion miles away? Well about 3 billion long way off. |
... |
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