The Infinite Monkey Cage

Professor Brian Cox and Robin Ince muse on multifaceted subjects involved in building a universe, with pearls of wisdom from leading scientists and comedians peppered throughout.

Covering billions of concepts and conundrums, they tackle everything from the Big Bang to parallel universes, fierce creatures to extraterrestrial life, brain science to artificial intelligence. How to Build a Universe is an illuminating and inspirational celebration of science – sometimes silly, sometimes astounding and very occasionally facetious.

About the Author

Professor Brian Cox, OBE FRS is Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester and the Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science. He is best known as a science broadcaster and presenter of the popular BBC Wonders trilogy, Human Universe, Forces of Nature and Stargazing Live, as well as co-presenting BBC Radio 4's multi-award winning science/comedy show The Infinite Monkey Cage. He was also the keyboard player in the UK pop band D:Ream in the 1990s and used to be a bus spotter.

Robin Ince was in a far less successful band than Brian Cox called The Reg Gutteridge Experience. Their songs have not been used by any political party as an anthem, not even `The Hornsey Axe Murderer'. As well as shows about science he does podcasts about angry music with Michael Legge (Vitriola) and The Book Shambles Podcast with Josie Long. He has sometimes received awards for his stand-up which is about stuffed goats in galleries and Kurt Vonnegut. He lost a round of Just a Minute after saying `allo allo' when his brain needed a reference to a sitcom.