Writing the Universe

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Factual: Science & Nature

Robin Ince looks at how authors and astronomers have conveyed the wonders of the cosmos.

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Writing the Universe: The End

The End

BBC Radio 4 - Writing the Universe, The End

Robin Ince on Writing the End of the Universe – if indeed it does end

Robin Ince explores how great science communicators past and present have helped woo us towards ideas of the universe’s destiny

It might seem to be the most remote of scientific questions. How does it all end -  If indeed it does end? Much has been written about the beginning that lies behind us: the creation of the universe 13.8 billion years ago; the Big Bang and all that followed. But with all we have learned so far, how accurate can our predictions of the end be? 

It was Renaissance astronomer Galileo who believed the “Book of nature is written in mathematical characters” and that without these “one is wandering in a dark labyrinth” But equations of physics can run both forward as well as back. And pictures have begun to emerge of the far-future evolution of the universe .But in conveying any scenarios as to how the universe might end, how careful do scientists and writers have to be to avoid bringing on any cosmological vertigo to the minds of inhabitants on planet earth?

Robin Ince examines how the great science communicators past and present have helped woo us towards concepts of the universe’s destiny that we would have previously found quite improbable.

With contributions from Robin’s fellow Infinite Monkey Cage presenter Brian Cox, Katie Mack author of The End of Everything; Paul Sutter author of Your Place in the Universe; physicist and philosopher Sean Carroll; art critic Louisa Buck; writer and producer John Lloyd; astronomer Adam Riess; astrophysicist Mike Turner

Producer: Adrian Washbourne

Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

Soundscape designer: Jane Watkins

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