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The 'Magicians' of Science with Marcus Chown

Adam Walton is in conversation with Marcus Chown whose new book, 'Breakthrough' celebrates the great minds who've used mathematics to predict fundamental principles of the Universe.

In this week's programme Adam Walton is in conversation with Marcus Chown whose new book, 'Breakthrough' celebrates the 'magicians' of science who've predicted the existence of planets, black holes, gravitational waves and the Higgs Boson entirely through mathematics - and often years before other scientists were able to provide experimental proof.

Those 'magicians' include Urbain Le Verrier who in 1846 used mathematical calculations to predict the existence - indeed the exact position - of the planet Neptune. We also hear about physicist Paul Dirac whose mathematical equation led to the inescapable conclusion that a universe of antimatter existed.

'Breakthrough: Spectacular Stories of Scientific Discovery from the Higgs Particle to Black Holes' by Marcus Chown is published by Faber

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 24 Oct 2021 06:30

Broadcasts

  • Tue 19 Oct 2021 18:30
  • Wed 20 Oct 2021 05:30
  • Sun 24 Oct 2021 06:30

Adam Walton

Adam Walton

Adam's "other job" - tune in every Saturday at 10 PM for the best new music from Wales.