The Reality of Being Santa

The Rest Is Science

Goalhanger

Physics, Science, Mathematics

4.5 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 23 December 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Could Santa Clause still exist IF we stripped away the magic? If the ability to bend spacetime was gone? What conditions would Santa need to deliver a present to every human being on Earth in a single night? Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens explore the historical, geographical, and logistical realities behind these questions using population data, longitudinal lines, mathematics AND a healthy dose of Christmas curiosity to calculate the impossible routes, speeds, and time spans involved in a 12 hour gift giving bonanza at global scale as a completely average human being. Wish them luck! ------------------- For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit ⁠⁠https://cancerresearchuk.org/restisscience⁠⁠ Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ. ------------------- Find The Rest Is Science all over the internet by ⁠⁠clicking here.⁠⁠ ------------------- Video Producer: Adam Thornton Video & Social: Bex Tyrrell Assistant Producer: Imee Marriott Producer: Becki Hills Senior Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Head Of Digital: Samuel Oakley Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Cancer Research UK.
0:02.8	Dinosaurs walked the earth 180 million years ago.
0:07.0	But you know, cancer was part of their story too.
0:10.2	Scientists have found tumors in ancient fossils.
0:13.2	Well, that is part of the reason why cancer is a big part of our story, right?
0:18.2	It's the other side of evolution.
0:19.9	It's the most complex disease that we face.
0:22.7	There are more than 200 types of cancer in total, each with distinct characteristics, challenges, and mysteries.
0:28.7	And that complexity demands scale. Cancer Research, UK, is the world's largest charitable funder of cancer research,
0:35.1	with more than 4,000 scientists, doctors, and nurses
0:38.7	working across more than 20 countries in the search for answers. And then sharing their
0:44.0	discoveries beyond borders. And the impact of this collaboration is clear, because over the last
0:48.2	50 years, the charity's pioneering work has helped to double cancer survival in the UK. That is more people who are living
0:55.9	longer, better lives. Fossils can show us the past, but research is shaping the future. And for more
1:03.1	information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them,
1:08.9	visit cancerresearchuk.org forward slash rest is science.
1:15.3	This episode is brought to you by Vanta. Security and compliance done wrong is a headache.
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