Why Is 1/137 One of the Greatest Unsolved Problems In Physics?

Thank you to Squarespace for supporting PBS. Go to ​ for a free trial, and when you are ready to launch, go to to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: Sign Up on Patreon to get access to the Space Time Discord! The Fine Structure Constant is one the strangest numbers in all of physics. It’s the job of physicists to worry about numbers, but there’s one number that physicists have stressed about more than any other. That number is - approximately 1/137. This is the fine structure constant, and it appears everywhere in our equations of quantum physics, and we’re still trying to figure out why. Check out the Space Time Merch Store Sign up for the mailing list to get episode notifications and hear special announcements! Search the Entire Space Time Library Here: Hosted by Matt O’Dowd Written by Fernando Franco Félix & Matt O’Dowd Post Production by Leonardo Scholzer, Yago Ballarini, Pedro Osinski, Caique Oliveira, Adriano Leal & Stephanie Faria GFX Visualizations: Ajay Manuel Directed by Andrew Kornhaber Associate Producer: Bahar Gholipour Executive Producers: Eric Brown & Andrew Kornhaber Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell Spacetime is produced by Kornhaber Brown for PBS Digital Studios. This program is produced by Kornhaber Brown, which is solely responsible for its content. © 2022 PBS. All rights reserved. End Credits Music by . Schattenberg: Special Thanks to Our Patreon Supporters Big Bang Supporters Scott Gilgallon Ryan Salsamendi Steffen Bendel Gautam Shine Adam Hillier Bryce Fort Peter Barrett David Neumann Charlie Leo Koguan Alexander Tamas Morgan Hough Amy Hickman Juan Benet Vinnie Falco Fabrice Eap Mark Rosenthal David Nicklas Quasar Supporters Vivaan Vaka Glenn Sugden Sujasha Gupta Vaka Vikram Vaka Alex Kern Ethan Cohen Stephen Wilcox Christina Oegren Mike Conroy Mark Heising Hank S Hypernova Supporters Floki Ryan Moser Ivari Tölp Vyce Ailour Brandon Paddock Oneamazinguy Ken S Gregory Forfa Kirk Honour Mark Evans drollere Joe Moreira Marc Armstrong Scott Gorlick Paul Stehr-Green Russell Pope Ben Delo Scott Gray Антон Кочков John R. Slavik Mathew Donal Botkin John Pollock Edmund Fokschaner Joseph Salomone chuck zegar Jordan Young John Hofmann Daniel Muzquiz Gamma Ray Burst Supporters Nikhil Sharma Alexander Gruber Jonathan Cordovano John Anderson Scott Hannum Paul Widden Bradley Ulis Craig Falls Kane Holbrook John Yaraee Ross Story teng guo Mason Dillon Harsh Khandhadia Thomas Tarler bsgbryan Sean McCaul Carsten Quinlan Susan Albee Frank Walker Matt Q MHL SHS Terje Vold James Trimmier Anatoliy Nagornyy comboy Andre Stechert Paul Wood Kent Durham jim bartosh Nubble Ramon Nogueira The Mad Mechanic Ellis Hall John H. Austin, Jr. Diana S Faraz Khan Almog Cohen Alex Edwards Ádám Kettinger MD3 Endre Pech Daniel Jennings Cameron Sampson Geoffrey Clarion Russ Creech Jeremy Reed Eric Webster David Johnston Web Browser Michael Barton Mr T Andrew Mann Isaac Suttell Devon Rosenthal Oliver Flanagan Bleys Goodson Robert Walter Bruce B Mirik Gogri Mark Delagasse Mark Daniel Cohen Nickolas Andrew Freeman Shane Calimlim Tybie Fitzhugh Robert Ilardi Eric Kiebler Craig Stonaha Graydon Goss Frederic Simon Tonyface John Robinson A G David Neal justahat John Funai Tristan Bradley Jenkins Kyle Hofer Daniel Stříbrný Luaan Cody Thomas Dougherty King Zeckendorff Dan Warren Patrick Sutton John Griffith Daniel Lyons DFaulk Kevin Warne