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Relativity

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Einstein's theory of relativity, a hypothetical framework that transformed our understanding of the universe.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Einstein's theories of relativity. Between 1905 and 1917 Albert Einstein formulated a theoretical framework which transformed our understanding of the Universe. The twin theories of Special and General Relativity offered insights into the nature of space, time and gravitation which changed the face of modern science. Relativity resolved apparent contradictions in physics and also predicted several new phenomena, including black holes. It's regarded today as one of the greatest intellectual achievements of the twentieth century, and had an impact far beyond the world of science.

With:

Ruth Gregory
Professor of Mathematics and Physics at Durham University

Martin Rees
Astronomer Royal and Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics at the University of Cambridge

Roger Penrose
Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford.

Producer: Thomas Morris.

Available now

42 minutes

Last on

Thu 6 Jun 2013 21:30

LINKS AND FURTHER READING

Ruth Gregory at Durham University

 

Martin Rees at the University of Cambridge

 

Roger Penrose at the University of Oxford

 

Black Holes - NASA Science

 

Matter, Energy, Space and Time - NASA Science

 

Black Holes - HubbleSite

 

E=mc2 - Sixty Symbols

 

Theory of relativity - Wikipedia

 

 

READING LIST:

 

Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw, Why Does E=mc²?: (And Why Should We Care?) (Da Capo, 2010)

 

Albert Einstein, The World As I See It (Citadel Press Inc, 2006)

 

Albert Einstein, Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (Pober Publishing Company, 2010)

 

Albert Einstein, The Essential Einstein: His Greatest Works (Penguin, 2008)

 

Walter Isaacson, Einstein: His Life and Universe (Pocket Books, 2008)

 

George Gamow and Russell Stannard, The New World of Mr Tompkins (CUP, 2001)

 

H. A. Lorentz, The Einstein Theory of Relativity: A Concise Statement (General Books, 2010)

 

Roger Penrose, The Road To Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe (Vintage, 2006)

 

Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking, The Nature of Space and Time (Princeton University Press, 2010)

 

Martin Rees, Before the Beginning: Our Universe and Others (Basic Books, 1998)

 

Martin Rees, Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces That Shape the Universe (Phoenix, 2001)

 

Russell Stannard, Relativity: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2008)

 

Kip Thorne, Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy (W. W. Norton & Co. 1995)

 

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Melvyn Bragg
Interviewed Guest Martin Rees
Interviewed Guest Roger Penrose
Interviewed Guest Ruth Gregory
Producer Thomas Morris

Broadcasts

  • Thu 6 Jun 2013 09:00
  • Thu 6 Jun 2013 21:30

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