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Maxwell and a Chinese Dinner

Will Self continues his road trip on the trail of physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Over a Chinese meal, Will expresses deep concerns about the nature and value of scientific progress.

Will Self continues his 600 mile road trip on the trail of Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell who 150 years ago pioneered the theory of the electromagnetic waves which made mobile phones, radio, radar and GPS possible.

In a bid to understand Maxwell and his legacy, Will is driving from Edinburgh to London in an electric car, accompanied by Akram Khan, professor of particle physics at Brunel University.

Over a Chinese meal in Manchester, Will expresses fundamental concerns about the nature and value of scientific progress. Akram is troubled by Will's misgivings.

Producer: Laurence Grissell.

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15 minutes

Last on

Wed 25 Nov 2015 12:04

Broadcast

  • Wed 25 Nov 2015 12:04

Podcast