Self Drives: Maxwell's Equations

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Will Self goes on a 600-mile road trip from Edinburgh to Cambridge on the trail of physicist James Clerk Maxwell, who pioneered the theory of electromagnetic waves

BBC Radio 4


    • Nov 27, 2015 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 11m AVG DURATION
    • 5 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Self Drives: Maxwell's Equations

    Maxwell's Genius

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2015 11:37


    Will Self concludes his 600 mile road trip on the trail of much neglected 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 feel the wonder of Maxwell's work and legacy, Will is driving from Edinburgh to London in an electric car, accompanied by Akram Khan, professor of particle physics at Brunel University. Will ends his journey in Cambridge posing the question: was Maxwell really a genius? Producer: Laurence Grissell.

    Maxwell in Space

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2015 11:30


    Will Self continues his 600 mile road trip on the trail of much neglected 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 feel the wonder of Maxwell's work and legacy, Will is driving from Edinburgh to London in an electric car, accompanied by Akram Khan, professor of particle physics at Brunel University. Following a clash of views about the value of scientific progress, Will & Akram drive to Jodrell Bank Observatory in a bid to understand more about the application of Maxwell's equations. Producer: Laurence Grissell.

    Maxwell and a Chinese Dinner

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2015 11:30


    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.

    Maxwell at Glenlair

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2015 11:23


    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 all possible. In a bid to understand Maxwell and his legacy, Will plans to drive from Edinburgh to London in an electric car, stopping off at locations relevant to the much neglected 19th century physicist. Today Will's at Glenlair, Maxwell's country estate, where he attempts to get to grips with what inspired the physicist's scientific imagination. Will's electric car, on the other hand, is proving somewhat less than inspirational... Producer: Laurence Grissell.

    Maxwell's Edinburgh

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2015 11:31


    Will Self embarks on a road trip from Edinburgh to Cambridge 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 all possible. In a bid to understand Maxwell and his achievements, Will plans to drive 600 miles in an electric car, stopping off at locations relevant to the much neglected 19th century physicist. Will's trip starts promisingly enough when he has a chance encounter with Nobel prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs on an Edinburgh back street not far from Maxwell's birthplace. But things then start to go awry as Will has a rather less welcome run-in in a multi-storey car park... Producer: Laurence Grissell.

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