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Exploring infinity, and the outer edges of abstract mathematics.

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There are ways of understanding certain aspects of infinity using mathematics. The great thing about infinity is that it doesn't fit into the world really, but it does fit in our brains. This is an amazing testimony to how powerful our brains are - that we can actually stick our minds around this impossibly huge concept, even though our minds are finite.

Mathematician Eugenia Cheng sums up the infinite potential of abstract mathematics - as a tool to understand art, philosophy and our own potential as human beings - and explains the concept of infinity to Chuck with the help of fingers, shoes, socks, Santa Claus and half a piece of chocolate cake.

Eugenia is author of Beyond Infinity: An Expedition to the Outer Limits of Mathematics from Basic Books.

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Eugenia Cheng

Dr Eugenia Cheng is an author and Scientist In Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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