Maxwell's Equations - 3. Maxwell and a Chinese Dinner

3. Maxwell and a Chinese Dinner

Download 3. Maxwell and a Chinese Dinner

Will Self continues his road trip from Edinburgh to Cambridge on the trail of a Scottish physicist.

In 1865 James Clerk Maxwell pioneered the theory of electromagnetic waves which made mobile phones, radio, radar and GPS all possible.

In a bid to understand Maxwell and his achievements, Will is driving 600 miles in an electric car.

He's 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

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

Published on Wednesday, 25th November 2015.

Available Podcasts from Maxwell's Equations

Subscribe to Maxwell's Equations

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Maxwell's Equations webpage.