"We are all in orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy. How big is this collection of stars? Somewhere between 200 and 400 billion suns in the Milky Way galaxy, about 100,000 light years across."

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How do we measure the universe, and are we doing it wrong? Physicist Brian Cox uncovers the hidden assumptions behind our units of measurement, showing how human perspective distorts our understanding of space, time, and scale. 

Cox explores the fundamental constants—like the speed of light, Planck’s constant, and gravity—that underpin the very fabric of our universe.

00:00 Biologically-based measurements
01:26 3 fundamental quantities
01:42 The speed of light
01:57 Strength of gravity
02:26 Planck’s constant
04:20 Observing a Planck length
05:32 Distance to the planets
08:18 Distance to other galaxies

Read the video transcript ► bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/measur…

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About Brian Cox:

Brian Cox obtained a first class honors degree in physics from the University of Manchester in 1995 and in 1998 a Ph.D. in High Energy Particle Physics at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. He is now Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Brian is widely recognized as the foremost communicator for all things scientific, having presented a number of highly acclaimed science programs for the BBC watched by billions internationally including ‘Adventures in Space and Time’ (2021), ‘Universe’ (2021), ‘The Planets’ (2018), ‘Forces of Nature’ (2016), ‘Human Universe’ (2014), ‘Wonders of Life’ (2012), ‘Wonders of the Universe’ (2011) and ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ (2010).

As an author, Brian has also sold over a million books worldwide including ‘Black Holes’, ‘Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos’, ‘Quantum Universe’ and ‘Why Does E=mc2?’ with co-author Professor Jeffrey Forshaw. He has set several world records for his sell-out live tours, including his most recent tour Horizons which has taken in venues across the globe.