Monkeys and Shakespeare: The Myth of Infinite Typing Debunked

Sun Jul 06 2025 04:47:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
Monkeys and Shakespeare: The Myth of Infinite Typing Debunked

New research by Australian mathematicians disproves the "infinite monkey theorem," revealing that monkeys can never realistically write Shakespeare.


A recent study led by two Australian researchers concludes that even with infinite time, monkeys wouldn't type Shakespeare. Their calculations suggest that even a global population of chimpanzees typing continuously wouldn’t come close to replicating the Bard's works, highlighting the misleading nature of the infinite monkey theorem.


In a revelation that challenges a long-held notion, Australian mathematicians have concluded that the famous "infinite monkey theorem" is not only improbable but essentially impossible. Traditionally, this thought experiment argued that given infinite time, a monkey randomly pressing keys could type out the complete works of William Shakespeare. However, in a newly published peer-reviewed study, researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta determined that the timeline required for such an event exceeds the lifespan of the universe itself.

The study assessed the typing capabilities of a lone monkey and expanded its calculations to include around 200,000 chimpanzees currently inhabiting the planet. The findings indicate that even if each chimp were to type at a rate of one keystroke per second for all eternity, they would fall short of producing Shakespeare's literary contributions. Astoundingly, the probability of a single chimp typing the word "bananas" in its lifespan is just 5%. When it comes to creating a coherent sentence like "I chimp, therefore I am," the likelihood dwindles to one in 10 million billion billion.

Woodcock stated, “It is not plausible that, even with improved typing speeds or an increase in chimpanzee populations, monkey labor will ever be a viable tool for developing non-trivial written works.” The study used the heat death theory, a widely accepted hypothesis for the universe’s end, as a basis for its calculations. The heat death suggests a scenario where the universe will expand and cool until life as we know it ceases to exist.

These results place the infinite monkey theorem alongside other probability enigmas and paradoxes, exposing the disconnect between theoretical constructs of infinite resources and the factual constraints of the universe.

MORE ON THEME

Wed, 14 May 2025 05:07:06 GMT

Chimpanzees Exhibit 'Forest First Aid' Practices Using Medicinal Plants

Wed, 14 May 2025 05:07:06 GMT
Sun, 04 May 2025 21:27:22 GMT

Australia's Liberal Party Faces Unprecedented Crisis After Electoral Defeat

Sun, 04 May 2025 21:27:22 GMT
Fri, 02 May 2025 14:29:56 GMT

Truck Spill Leaves Hundreds of Cars with Flat Tyres on Australia's M1 Highway

Fri, 02 May 2025 14:29:56 GMT
Fri, 02 May 2025 05:53:43 GMT

Metal Mayhem: Highway Accident Leaves Hundreds with Flat Tires

Fri, 02 May 2025 05:53:43 GMT
Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:01:40 GMT

Shakespeare’s Marriage Reexamined: Evidence Challenges Traditional Narratives

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:01:40 GMT
Sun, 20 Apr 2025 09:46:05 GMT

Giant Waves Claim Six Lives Along Australia’s East Coast

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 09:46:05 GMT
Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:28:03 GMT

Sydney's Unique Beach: A New Oasis Named Pondi Lies 50 Miles Inland

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:28:03 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:29:46 GMT

Exploring the Intersection of Math and Art with Mathemalchemy

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:29:46 GMT
Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:05:39 GMT

Heroic Passengers Thwart Armed Teen on Australian Flight

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 20:05:39 GMT
Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:05:34 GMT

Rare Manuscript of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 116" Offers New Insights into its Historical Context

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:05:34 GMT
Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:36:49 GMT

Exploring Optimal Transport: A Conversation with Mathematician Alessio Figalli

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:36:49 GMT
Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:42:54 GMT

Record Snake Rescue: 102 Venomous Red-Bellied Black Snakes Found in Sydney Yard

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 13:42:54 GMT
Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT

A Record Rescue: 102 Venomous Snakes Discovered in Sydney Backyard

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:15:59 GMT
Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:13:59 GMT

Surge in Antisemitic Violence Stuns Australia Amid Global Tensions

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:13:59 GMT
Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:17:03 GMT

Surge in Antisemitic Violence Shakes Australian Communities

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:17:03 GMT
Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:50:16 GMT

Australian Police Investigate Overseas Funding for Antisemitic Crimes

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:50:16 GMT
Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:28:54 GMT

Australian Police Investigate Potential Overseas Funding of Antisemitic Crimes

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:28:54 GMT
Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:24:04 GMT

Mysterious Marine Debris on Sydney Beaches Found to Contain Harmful Bacteria

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:24:04 GMT
Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:43:58 GMT

Marble-Like Debris Forces More Sydney Beaches to Close

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:43:58 GMT
Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:42:42 GMT

Empowering Future Mathematicians: Dr. Angela Tabiri's Quantum Mission for Girls in Ghana

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:42:42 GMT

Follow us

© 2024 SwissX REDD UK ltd. All Rights Reserved.