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Episode details

Radio 4,12 Nov 2025,42 mins

Series Series 34

What鈥檚 the time? - Marcus Brigstocke, Leon Lobo, Louise Devoy

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Available for over a year

Robin Ince and Brian Cox wind up at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich 鈥 arguably the centre of time 鈥 to uncoil the mysteries of what time is and how on Earth (鈥nd on moon) we keep track of it. Taking the time to join them are comedian Marcus Brigstocke, curator of the Royal Observatory Louise Devoy, and Head of the National Timing Centre Leon Lobo. From ancient Egyptian knuckle counting to sun dials, quartz oscillators and atomic clocks, the panel turns back time to discover how we measured and kept it throughout history. Together, they dial into why Greenwich has become such an important place for time and how time is synchronised and sold across the globe. They explore the flaws and future of accurate astronomical and atomic timekeeping, and Marcus blames the 鈥榣eap second鈥 for his fry-up failures. Producer: Olivia Jani Series Producer: Melanie Brown Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem A 麻豆社 Studios Production

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