Big Numbers

Big numbers do not just confuse people – many computers struggle to process them too. Tim Harford talks to technology journalist Chris Baraniuk, who explains how a simple software bug affects computers controlling planes, spacecraft and has led to explosions, missing space probes and more. And good news – two mothers who asked us to work out the chances of giving birth on the same day have had their babies. We reveal what happened.

(Photo:Composition of connected abstract elements on the subject of networking, science, education and modern technology. Credit: Shutterstock)