Does the universe have a preferred direction, or is it fundamentally left or right-handed?
In short: In his 1974 Christmas Lectures, Professor Eric Laithwaite used the whimsical logic of Alice in Wonderland to explore the mechanics of our reality. By examining electromagnetism and the behavior of gyroscopes, he challenged his audience to consider whether the universe itself possesses a hidden, inherent directionality that defies our conventional understanding.
Delivered on December 28, 1974, at the Royal Institution, Eric Laithwaite’s third lecture, titled Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow, utilized the chess themes found in Lewis Carroll’s work to investigate the concept of odds and evens. Laithwaite, who lived from 1921 to 1997, was a pioneering figure in science communication, becoming the first person to present two televised series of Christmas Lectures. His 1974 series, The Engineer Through the Looking Glass, served as a follow-up to his 1966 series, The Engineer in Wonderland.
The core of Laithwaite's inquiry focused on the nature of the universe. He asked whether the cosmos exhibits a preferred direction, questioning if it is fundamentally left or right-handed. To explore these complex physical properties, he employed the phenomenon of electromagnetism and collaborated with the Radiophonic Workshop to conduct experiments involving sound and speech. For Laithwaite, the engineer's primary objective was to pursue the seemingly impossible, viewing the journey of discovery as a reward in itself, even if it lacked a definitive conclusion.
Laithwaite’s broader series covered gravitation, inertia, and electromagnetism. However, his work was not without controversy. In his fourth lecture, he famously utilized behavioral gyroscopes in an attempt to challenge established scientific principles, specifically Newton’s Laws of motion and the laws of thermodynamics. This bold approach reflected his overarching philosophy that science is an inherently exciting endeavor fueled by curiosity. By inviting his audience to step through the mirror, he encouraged a perspective where the delight of exploration outweighs the need for a final, static crown.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow - Eric Laithwaite's 1974 Christmas Lectures 3/6
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