The Middle of Everything Ever | Radiolab

Intro

In this episode of Radiolab titled “The Middle of Everything Ever,” Laura Andrews, an undergraduate student at the University of Missouri, poses a question about the most average size that a thing could be in the universe. This seemingly simple question leads to philosophical ponderings about our place in the universe and the boundaries of everything. Steve Strogatz, a mathematician at Cornell, joins in to help answer the question and explore the fascinating concept of size and its significance.

Main Takeaways

The Mathematical Challenge

• Laura Andrews asks for the exact median size between the largest singular thing and the smallest thing in the universe.
• Steve Strogatz is brought in to help answer the question.
• They decide to measure everything using meters and round to factors of 10 to simplify the math.
• Powers of 10 are used to talk about really big and really little numbers.

The Smallest and Largest Things

• The smallest conceivable thing is the Planck length, which is 10 to the minus 35 meters.
• The biggest thing ranges from molecules to dust mites, dolphins, and beyond.
• The universe is estimated to be around 14 billion light years in diameter.
• Recent studies suggest that the actual diameter of the universe is much larger, around 93 billion light years, due to inflation during the universe’s early expansion.

Calculating the Middle of the Universe

• There are different ways to calculate the middle of the universe, such as mean, median, and geometric mean.
• The most intuitive way is to find the average of the biggest and smallest numbers, known as the geometric mean.
• The middle of the universe is calculated to be 10 to the negative 4, which is a millimeter and a tenth of a grain of sand.
• The diameter of the biggest eukaryotic cell is the middle of the universe.

The Significance of Size

• Size is an interesting concept because when something gets bigger, the physics works differently.
• A large thing has more volume compared to surface area, while a small thing has more surface area compared to volume.
• Being small or average doesn’t make you insignificant; size is relative and interesting.
• Life as we know it may only be possible due to the ideal size of cells, which allows for necessary interactions with the environment.

Philosophical Ponderings

• The question about the most average size leads to philosophical ponderings about our place in the universe and the boundaries of everything.
• The concept of a singular thing is a fiction, as everything is made up of smaller components.
• The basic unit of complicated life is the middle, which is the thing we have in common with all things.

Summary

Exploring Size in the Universe

Laura Andrews’ question about the most average size in the universe sparks a mathematical challenge. Steve Strogatz joins in to help answer the question by measuring everything using meters and rounding to factors of 10. They discuss the smallest conceivable thing, the Planck length, and the vast range of sizes in the universe. Calculating the middle of the universe using different methods, they find that the diameter of the biggest eukaryotic cell represents the middle of all measurables. Size is explored in relation to physics, with larger things having more volume and smaller things having more surface area. The philosophical implications of size and the concept of a singular thing are also discussed, highlighting the middle as the basic unit of complicated life.

Conclusion

The question about the most average size in the universe leads to fascinating insights about the vastness of the universe, the significance of size, and our place within it. Size is not just a matter of measurement, but it also affects the physics and interactions of objects. The concept of a singular thing is challenged, emphasizing the interconnectedness of everything. Ultimately, the exploration of size and its implications opens up a world of philosophical ponderings about the boundaries of everything.