Nova: The Great Math Mystery

I first saw this program on pay TV and was so fascinated that I felt I would benefit even further by having the DVD so I could re-watch it and so pick up on points I had missed - there was just so much of interest in it about the nature of our universe and how the laws of nature affect our very day lives. Anyone interested in what goes on around us, unseen but affecting us all, should see this program. Although the laws of the universe are profound the program is presented in such a way as to be within the grasp of the lay person.As well as describing how the universal physical laws constantly are affecting all our lives, the program also examines the historical aspects of how these laws were discovered, e.g. Galileo's discovery of gravity and Newton's discovery of the laws of motion (e.g. acceleration). The presenter even demonstrates, using the same methods as used by the discoverers, how these breakthroughs were achieved. It was then demonstrated how these laws control everything that we do.We learn that these laws are constant throughout the entire universe. We lean that all universal bodies create gravity but at different strengths and this is what keeps the stars and planets "in place". We also learn that these laws can all be 'reduced' to a mathematical formula, e.g. the circumference of a circle is calculated by the formula 2πr. We are told that recently a previously undiscovered star was identified by using gravitational formulae in connection with a planet that was being pulled away from its gravitational rotation around a its star by a stronger gravitational pull from another, unsighted and previously unknown star. Th whereabouts and size of this 'new' star was then calculated by gravitational formula and subsequently physically sighted.The "mystery" part of the program is whether the universal mathematical formulae existed before the "big Bang" and in some way was the force behind everything and we are now discovering those formulae or whether man has invented the various formulae and applied them to the laws of nature. In other words, have these laws existed for all time or do they originate in the human brain. Apparently the jury is still out on this.I hope I've been able in my layman's way to shed some light on the subject matter of this Nova DVD but, whether or no this is so, I can assure others that the subject matter is brilliantly dealt with in the program and is eminently suitable for the lay person.

I bought two copies of this video, one for myself and one for my great grandson.I, too, hated math when I was in intermediate school, but learned to love it when I became a college student, thanks to a wonderful professor. I hope this video clears up things for him. and he, who is a very smart boy, will learn to love math as I do.

The problem of "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics" has puzzled the west since Pythorgas. This video provides an excellent presentation of this enigma.Explains the facinating insights of math, such as Fibonacci numbers, Maxwell's prediction of radio (found by Marconi), atomic physics -quarks, leptons, etc. Why does all this 'stuff' obey incredibly complex mathematics? Yes, but really, Why?Newton's gravity - a mathematical formula - precisely explains all known motion, everything on earth to anything in the universe. How is that possible? If these are mathematical laws, who is the lawgiver?Are humans creating mathematics in their head and imposing it on reality? Was mathematics used in the production of reality and we are just finding it? Or as video mentions, are both true? Human brain contains mathematical potential, and reality contains mathematical existence. Presents various mathematicians who believe math is found (Plato's opinion). They are convinced humans don't create math, it is already in existence? Who did that?Highlights Mario Livio, astrophysicist, who penned the book "Is God a mathematican?" We know that Galelio, Kepler, Newton, Maxwell, Pascal all thought math was a way to see into the mind of God. Video shows that Aristotle who did not use math, just common sense, was wrong.Explains Galileo's use of an inclined plane to slow down motion, enabling him to measure speed and deduce the mathematical formula. Actually shows the building of this apparatus. Uses animation to quickly reproduce Galileo's experiment. It shows his step by step reasoning. This was a key moment in western science. Very well done!Mentions Wigner's Nobel address "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics". (This can be found on the web. Twelve pages. Accessible to layman. Excellent!) This video does not supply the answer to the question. It just propounds the mystery and allows viewer to reach his own conclusion.This video good for all ages. Lots of visual demonstration. Little time spent on talking heads. Planning to review with my grandson and recommend to friends. Enjoyed it.(The Terry Jones DVD - ''The Story of One''; adds to this theme)

Fun to watch video, wish they would have went into more detail with the Fibonacci sequence, because it's freakin' everywhere. :)

This program explores the idea that math is more than a language or tool for the scientist or an art or game for the mathematician, but, in itself, expresses a science, i.e. that axioms, definitions, theorems and proofs are not just logical and artistic creations, but are also discoveries about the world. This is a bit subtle, because the ancient Pythagoreans and Plato saw math not simply as a science of the natural world, but of an ideal world, inaccessible to the senses but not the intellect. Much of the choice of topics in the program were very elementary, directed more toward children than the educated adult. It is interesting that computation was not much discussed. However, the potential for turning mathematics into a science, even if it is not that now, has certainly grown exponentially with the consequences of the computer revolution. Although this was not discussed, the film is nonetheless of very broad scope. The mystery of the nature of mathematics is a deep one, and it is important to be aware of it. Therefore, I recommend this film, not just for children, but for others who perhaps are interested in math, but are not themselves mathematicians or scientists. Even I, as someone who is fairly knowledgeable about this mystery, found the show visually interesting, even if much of it was reviewing ideas with which I am already quite familiar.

I love this

I enjoyed the programme, but gave d. v. d to my son and his family.

Region fuer abspielen beschraenkt aus England, nicht abspielbar bei uns: wirklich volkommen wertlos und ohne Warnung oder Bemerkung vorhin mitgegeben !!!