Will we ever run out of phone numbers? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Chuck Nice explore how you got your phone number, social security numbers, and permutations. Could we run out in our lifetimes?

When did we invent area codes? Neil takes us back to the days of operators and before phone numbers had area codes. Will we need to reuse social security numbers? What about shipment numbers? What happens when you add letters to an identification number? All that and more on another StarTalk explainer!

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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0:00 - Introduction
1:14 - Social Security Numbers
9:11 - Phone Numbers
13:34 - Tracking Numbers
15:52 - Closing Notes