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4. The Butterfly That Stamped

Episode 4 of 5

Vivienne Parry with the science behind Kipling's stories - and the reality of the butterfly effect. Readings by Samuel West. From 2014.

Vivienne Parry considers another of the animals of Rudyard Kipling's much loved Just So Stories for Children.

Assisted by researchers of 'infinite sagacity', she sets out to discover whether his fantasies contain any grains of truth?

Kipling tells of a boastful butterfly threatening to bring down a palace with the beat of his wings.

But as Vivienne discovers, the butterfly effect is a real phenomenon in science.

With:

* Chemist Andrea Sella
* Meteorologist Paul Davies

Excerpts read by Samuel West.

Producer: Rami Tzabar

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in June 2014.

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Thu 19 Mar 2026 09:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 26 Jun 2014 13:45
  • Thu 19 Mar 2026 09:30