Professor Frank Close Appears on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time

Professor Frank Close OBE FRS, Exeter College Emeritus Fellow in Physics, recently featured as a special guest on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time. Professor Close joined host Melvyn Bragg and other distinguished guests to discuss the pioneering work of German physicist Werner Heisenberg and his ground-breaking uncertainty principle. 

During the programme, Professor Close offered insights into the philosophical and conceptual implications of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. He highlighted Heisenberg’s classical background, his interest in Plato’s ideas, and his pivotal encounter with Niels Bohr. Professor Close explained how Heisenberg’s collaboration with Bohr in Copenhagen led to the maturation of his mathematical scheme, culminating in the formulation of the equations of quantum mechanics in 1925.  

As a Fellow of the Royal Society, Professor Close’s expertise and contributions to the field of physics are well recognised. He has published over 20 books, including books on popular science and the history of modern physics, and his latest work, Elusive: How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass has been met with much acclaim.

Click here to order a copy of Elusive. To listen to In Our Time: Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle with Professor Frank Close click here.