Maxwell's Equations

• 5. Maxwell's Genius

  Will Self concludes 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 has driven 600 miles in an electric car.So was Maxwell really a genius?Producer: Laurence GrissellFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

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• 4. Maxwell in Space

  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.Will and Akram clash views over the value of scientific progressSo they drive to Jodrell Bank Observatory in a bid to understand more about the application of Maxwell's equations.Producer: Laurence GrissellFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

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• 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 GrissellFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

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• 2. Maxwell at Glenlair

  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.This time Will arrives at Glenlair, Maxwell's country estate.Here 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 GrissellFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

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• 1. Maxwell's Edinburgh

  Will Self embarks on a 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 plans to drive 600 miles in an electric car. He’s planning to stop off at locations relevant to the much-neglected 19th century boffin.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 GrissellFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2015.

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