Big Numbers
How a simple computer bug has led to explosions, missing planes and more.
Big numbers do not just confuse people 鈥� many computers struggle to process them too. Tim Harford talks to technology journalist Chris Baraniuk, who explains how a simple software bug affects computers controlling planes, spacecraft and has led to explosions, missing space probes and more. And good news 鈥� two mothers who asked us to work out the chances of giving birth on the same day have had their babies. We reveal what happened.
(Photo:Composition of connected abstract elements on the subject of networking, science, education and modern technology. Credit: Shutterstock)
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Chris Baraniuk writes for 成人快手 Future on the number glitch that can lead to catastrophe.
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鈥楽witch the plane off and then on again鈥�
Duration: 01:26
Broadcasts
- Fri 15 May 2015 18:50GMT成人快手 World Service Online
- Fri 15 May 2015 23:50GMT成人快手 World Service Online
- Sun 17 May 2015 21:50GMT成人快手 World Service Online
- Mon 18 May 2015 04:50GMT成人快手 World Service Online
- Mon 18 May 2015 12:50GMT成人快手 World Service Online
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