Podcasts · The Rest Is Science

Data & The Universe (Understanding Infinity Part 3)

· 51 min · S1 E40

Episode Data & The Universe (Understanding Infinity Part 3)

0:00 51:27

What happens when you finally reach the end of forever? And what exactly is the difference between Omega and Aleph-null?

Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens (VSauce) return for the final (possibly not) chapter of our infinity series, unpicking the frankly absurd mechanics of multiple infinities. They reveal how mathematicians don't just measure the endless void, but actively organise it, exploring the bizarre gap between the sheer size of a boundless set of numbers and its actual order.

Following Georg Cantor's mathematical meltdown, this episode tackles the mind bending rules of the infinite, why Aleph-null is just the baby of the infinite family, and how jumping to Omega requires a complete rewiring of human logic.

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Video Producer: Adam Thornton + Oli Oakley

Video & Social: Bex Tyrrell

Producer: Simona Rata

Senior Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter

Head Of Digital: Samuel Oakley

Exec Producer: Neil Fearn

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