60-Second Adventures in Thought - for iPad/Mac/PC

The Open University

Can a cat be both alive and dead? Can a computer think? How does a tortoise beat Achilles in a race? Voiced by comedian David Mitchell, these fast-paced animations explain six famous thought experiments, from the ancient Greeks to Albert Einstein, that have changed the way we see the world. Subjects as vast as time travel, infinity, quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence, are squeezed into 60-second clips that will tickle your funny bone and blow your mind.

Episodes

  1. 28/09/2011 · VIDEO

    Achilles and the Tortoise

    Ancient mathematical trickery proves that a mighty hero cannot overtake a tortoise.

    1 min

  2. 28/09/2011

    Transcript -- Achilles and the Tortoise

    Transcript -- Ancient mathematical trickery proves that a mighty hero cannot overtake a tortoise.

  3. 28/09/2011 · VIDEO

    The Grandfather Paradox

    A well known story that questions the logic of time travel.

    1 min

  4. 28/09/2011

    Transcript -- The Grandfather Paradox

    Transcript -- A well known story that questions the logic of time travel.

  5. 28/09/2011 · VIDEO

    The Chinese Room

    An argument against computers ever being truly intelligent.

    1 min

  6. 28/09/2011

    Transcript -- The Chinese Room

    Transcript -- An argument against computers ever being truly intelligent.

  7. 28/09/2011 · VIDEO

    Hilbert’s Infinite Hotel

    A never-ending hotel, always full of guests, helps to explain the nature of infinity.

    1 min

  8. 28/09/2011

    Transcript -- Hilbert’s Infinite Hotel

    Transcript -- A never-ending hotel, always full of guests, helps to explain the nature of infinity.

  9. 28/09/2011 · VIDEO

    The Twin Paradox

    An identical twin in space illustrates Einstein's special theory of relativity.

    1 min

  10. 28/09/2011

    Transcript -- The Twin Paradox

    Transcript -- An identical twin in space illustrates Einstein's special theory of relativity.

  11. 28/09/2011 · VIDEO

    Schrödinger’s Cat

    This famous experiment tackling quantum theory involves a cat in a potentially lethal box.

    1 min

  12. 28/09/2011

    Transcript -- Schrödinger’s Cat

    Transcript -- This famous experiment tackling quantum theory involves a cat in a potentially lethal box.

  • 12 Episodes

About

Can a cat be both alive and dead? Can a computer think? How does a tortoise beat Achilles in a race? Voiced by comedian David Mitchell, these fast-paced animations explain six famous thought experiments, from the ancient Greeks to Albert Einstein, that have changed the way we see the world. Subjects as vast as time travel, infinity, quantum mechanics and artificial intelligence, are squeezed into 60-second clips that will tickle your funny bone and blow your mind.

Information

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