The Infinite Monkey Cage What’s the time? - Marcus Brigstocke, Leon Lobo, Louise Devoy
Nov 19, 2025
Leon Lobo, head of the UK National Timing Centre, delves into the evolution of timekeeping, from Egyptian sundials to ultrastable atomic clocks. Louise Devoy, a senior curator at the Royal Observatory, shares captivating tales of how Greenwich became the world's timekeeper and the history of its iconic instruments. Comedian Marcus Brigstocke adds humor, discussing the challenges of leap seconds and their impact on daily life. Together, they explore the intricate dance of synchronized time that governs everything from technology to navigation.
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Personal Timekeepers: Kids And Displays
- Leon Lobo recalled his son waking them every morning asking for breakfast as a beloved household timekeeper.
- He also described the NPL display that ticks to the thousandth of a second as ideal for setting watches.
Seasons As Natural Timekeepers
- Louise Devoy's favourite timekeeper is the park's seasonal display of cherry blossoms and autumn colours.
- She sees it as a simple, profound reminder of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Time Underpins Modern Digital Life
- Modern digital infrastructures fundamentally rely on synchronized time for operations like SatNav, telecoms, and payments.
- Time underpins coordination across distributed systems and everyday services.
