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Are there more possible games of chess than atoms in the universe?

We investigate how the vast possibilities in a game of chess compare to the vastness of the observable universe.

We investigate how the vast possibilities in a game of chess compare to the vastness of the observable universe.

Dr James Grime helps us understand the Shannon number – a famous figure on the chess side of the equation - and astronomer Professor Catherine Heymans takes on the entire observable universe.

Presenter: Tim Harford
Producers: Debbie Richford and Nathan Gower
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Sound Mix: Andy Fell
Editor: Richard Vadon

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9 minutes

Last on

Mon 22 Jan 2024 00:50GMT
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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  • Sat 20 Jan 2024 05:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sat 20 Jan 2024 11:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
  • Sat 20 Jan 2024 16:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service News Internet
  • Sun 21 Jan 2024 09:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service West and Central Africa
  • Sun 21 Jan 2024 11:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
  • Sun 21 Jan 2024 22:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Mon 22 Jan 2024 00:50GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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