Main content

05/05/2012 GMT

In the broader scheme of things, are we, humans, just ‘cosmic pollution’?

Cosmology, particle physics, mathematics and theatrical performance all come together this week, as we try to make sense of some of the biggest questions of all by juggling what we know about the very smallest things. Lawrence Krauss explains why the seemingly empty space that takes up so much of the cosmos is full of measurable energy.
Plus theatre director Alexander Devriendt on the reasons for telling the history of the universe backwards so that it ends in … nothing, and slices of nothingness in mathematics with Ian Stewart: a glimpse of the near-magical world of infinitesimals.

Illustration by Emily Kasriel: finding everything and nothing in the realm of the infinitesimally small and the infinitely large.

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Sun 6 May 2012 11:05GMT

Chapters

  • Part 1

    Lawrence Krauss

    Duration: 16:21

  • Alexander Devriendt

    Alexander Devriendt

    Duration: 06:39

  • Part 2 60 Second Idea

    Alexander Devriendt: replace food labels with single letters

    Duration: 05:08

  • Ian Stewart

    Ian Stewart

    Duration: 12:22

Broadcasts

  • Sat 5 May 2012 22:05GMT
  • Sun 6 May 2012 01:05GMT
  • Sun 6 May 2012 11:05GMT

Do you think political or business leaders need to be charismatic? Or do you prefer highly competent but somewhat stern people?

Do you think political or business leaders need to be charismatic? Or do you prefer highly competent but somewhat stern people?

We’d love to hear your views on charm and charisma for a future Forum.

Podcast