Physicist, BBC presenter, and author Brian Cox reflects on the inspiration behind his latest live performance, “Emergence.” The show draws from his long-standing admiration for Johannes Kepler’s “The Six-Cornered Snowflake.” While Kepler is widely recognized for his groundbreaking laws of planetary motion around 1610, he also penned a lesser-known, exquisite treatise on New Year’s Eve in 1609. It was during a snowstorm on the Charles Bridge in Prague, en route to his benefactor’s home and without a gift, that Kepler observed snowflakes landing on his arm. This observation sparked profound contemplation on their inherent symmetry and the intriguing question of why they consistently possess six sides.
By Rupert Blackwood
Investigative journalist based in Sheffield, focusing on technology's impact on society. Rupert specializes in cybercrime's effect on communities, from online fraud targeting elderly residents to cryptocurrency scams. His reporting examines social media manipulation, digital surveillance, and how criminal networks operate in cyberspace. With expertise in computer systems, he connects technical complexity with real-world consequences for ordinary people