Main Episodes

Currently Playing: This Toothpick Contains Everything Ever Said (Infinity Part 3)

What happens when you finally reach the end of forever? And what exactly is the difference between Omega and Aleph-null? Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens (VSauce) return for the final (possibly not) chapter of our infinity series, unpicking the frankly absurd mechanics of multiple infinities. They reveal how mathematicians don't just measure the endless void, but actively organise it, exploring the bizarre gap between the sheer size of a boundless set of numbers and its actual order. Following Georg Cantor's mathematical meltdown, this episode tackles the mind bending rules of the infinite, why Aleph-null is just the baby of the infinite family, and how jumping to Omega requires a complete rewiring of human logic. ------------------- For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit ⁠⁠https://cancerresearchuk.org/restisscience⁠⁠ Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ. ------------------- Video Producer: Adam Thornton + Oli Oakley Video & Social: Bex Tyrrell Animations: Sam Benson Producer: Simona Rata Senior Producer: Lauren Armstrong-Carter Head Of Digital: Samuel Oakley Exec Producer: Neil Fearn ------------------- 00:00 Intro 00:48 The toothpick that contains everything ever said 02:35 Octopus Energy 03:50 The everything toothpick cont. 05:15 Power sets and the Beth numbers 10:30 Racing toward Aleph One 16:12 The boss of infinities and the inaccessible 21:45 Is the universe actually infinite? 27:50 The uncomfortable reality of doppelgängers 34:15 Pixels of space and the simulation theory 40:00 The playground for the soul 46:56 Outro