The Reality of Being Santa
Summary
Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens delve into the logistical challenge of Santa Claus delivering presents worldwide in a single night, stripping away magic. They investigate historical population bottlenecks, the geographical spread of early Homo sapiens, and hypothetical prehistoric transportation methods. The discussion also covers the origins of St. Nicholas and what gifts a non-magical, prehistoric Santa might have distributed, from shell beads to miniature hand axes and early forms of beer.Episode description
Could Santa Clause still exist IF we stripped away the magic? If the ability to bend spacetime was gone? What conditions would Santa need to deliver a present to every human being on Earth in a single night?
Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens explore the historical, geographical, and logistical realities behind these questions using population data, longitudinal lines, mathematics AND a healthy dose of Christmas curiosity to calculate the impossible routes, speeds, and time spans involved in a 12 hour gift giving bonanza at global scale as a completely average human being.
Wish them luck!
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Video Producer: Adam Thornton
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Assistant Producer: Imee Marriott
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