[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.46,0:00:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can you imagine,\Nyou're in a bar, or a disco,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.26,0:00:09.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you start talking to a girl,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.95,0:00:14.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and after a while this question come up:\N"So, what do you do for work?"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.55,0:00:17.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And since you think\Nyour job is interesting you say:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.87,0:00:19.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I'm a mathematician."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.71,0:00:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.36,0:00:25.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,33.51 % of girls,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.62,0:00:26.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.89,0:00:30.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in that moment, pretend\Nto get an urgent call and leave.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.77,0:00:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.50,0:00:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And 64.69 % of girls
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.27,0:00:40.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,desperately try to change the topic and leave.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.08,0:00:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.27,0:00:44.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a 0.8 % made up by your cousin,\Nyour girlfriend and your mother,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.49,0:00:45.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.63,0:00:49.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who know that you work in something weird\Nbut don't remember what it is. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.69,0:00:52.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there is 1 %\Nthat actually follows the conversation.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.82,0:00:55.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When that conversation happens,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.08,0:00:58.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at some point, invariably,\None of these two phrases come up:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.87,0:01:02.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A: "I was terrible at math,\Nbut it wasn't my fault,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.58,0:01:05.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's that the teacher\Nwas horrendous." (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.61,0:01:08.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And B: "But what is math really for?"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.58,0:01:09.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.93,0:01:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll deal with case B.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.96,0:01:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.68,0:01:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When someone asks you what math is for,\Nthey're not asking you
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.48,0:01:21.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the application\Nof mathematical science.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.20,0:01:23.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're asking you:\N"And why did I have to study
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.52,0:01:26.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that bullshit I never used\Nagain in my life?" (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.46,0:01:28.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what they're actually asking.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.99,0:01:33.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when mathematicians\Nare asked what math is for,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.12,0:01:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they tend to split into two groups.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.40,0:01:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,54.51 % of mathematicians\Nwill take an attacking posture
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.61,0:01:46.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and 44.77 % of mathematicians\Nwill take a defensive posture.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.56,0:01:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a strange 0.8 %,\Namong which I include myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.07,0:01:52.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who are the ones that attack?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.16,0:01:54.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The attacking ones are mathematicians\Nwho would tell you:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.90,0:01:56.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"This question makes no sense,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.85,0:01:59.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because mathematics\Nhave a meaning on their own--
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.60,0:02:02.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a beautiful edifice with its own logic--
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.14,0:02:04.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that there's no use
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.01,0:02:06.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in constantly searching\Nfor possible applications.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.69,0:02:08.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's the use of poetry?\NWhat's the use of love?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.85,0:02:11.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's the use of life itself? \NWhat kind of question is that?"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.91,0:02:13.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.53,0:02:17.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hardy, for instance, is a prime example\Nfor this type of attack.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.30,0:02:19.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those who stand in defense tell you:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.47,0:02:24.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Even if you don't notice it, dear,\Nmath is behind everything."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.08,0:02:25.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.56,0:02:27.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They always--
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.72,0:02:31.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,always name bridges and computers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.67,0:02:34.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"If you don't know math,\Nyour bridge falls off."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.04,0:02:35.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.57,0:02:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In reality, computers are all about math.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.52,0:02:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, these guys always happen to tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.04,0:02:46.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that behind information security\Nand credit cards are prime numbers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.71,0:02:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are the answers your math teacher\Nwould give you if you asked him--
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.22,0:02:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the defensive ones.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.54,0:02:54.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, but, who's right then?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.40,0:02:56.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those who say math\Ndoesn't need to be useful at all,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.99,0:02:59.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or those who say\Nthat it's really behind everything?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.85,0:03:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Actually, both are right.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.52,0:03:03.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But remember I told you
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.18,0:03:06.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I belong to that strange 0.8 %\Nclaiming something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.73,0:03:09.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, go ahead, ask me what math is for.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.93,0:03:12.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Audience: What is math for?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.86,0:03:17.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so 76.34 % of you\Nasked the question,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.78,0:03:20.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,23.41 % didn't say anything,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.72,0:03:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and 0.8 %--
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.13,0:03:24.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not sure what those guys were doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.68,0:03:26.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, dear 76.31 %
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.04,0:03:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's true that math can be useless,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.82,0:03:35.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's true that it's\Na beautiful edification, a logical one,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.68,0:03:38.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,probably one\Nof the greatest collective effort
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.54,0:03:40.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the human race\Nhas ever achieved in history.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.63,0:03:42.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's also true that there,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.52,0:03:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where scientists and technicians\Nare looking for mathematical theories,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.33,0:03:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,models that allow them to advance,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.64,0:03:53.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they are in the edification of math,\Nwhich permeates everything.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.71,0:03:56.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's true that we have to go\Nsomewhat deeper,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.58,0:03:58.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see what's behind science.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.31,0:04:01.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Science is based on intuition, creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.35,0:04:05.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Math dominates intuition\Nand tames creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.75,0:04:09.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Almost everyone\Nwho hasn't heard it before
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.72,0:04:12.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is surprised by the fact that if one took
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.69,0:04:15.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a sheet of paper 0.1 mm thick,\None of those we use normally,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.69,0:04:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,big enough, and that I\Ncould fold 50 times,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.11,0:04:25.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thickness of that pile would take up\Nthe distance from the Earth to the Sun.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.43,0:04:30.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your intuition tells you: "Impossible."\NDo the math and you'll see it's right.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.23,0:04:31.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what math is for.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.88,0:04:36.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It true that science, all science,\Nnot only has a purpose
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.10,0:04:39.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it makes us understand better\Nthe beautiful would we're in.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.82,0:04:43.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because it does, it helps us\Navoid the traps
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.04,0:04:44.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this painful world\Nwe're in.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.83,0:04:48.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are sciences that grasp\Nthis very application.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.44,0:04:50.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oncological science, for example.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.04,0:04:53.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are others we look\Nfrom afar, with some jealousy sometimes,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.53,0:04:56.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but knowing we are what supports them.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.08,0:04:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the basic sciences\Nare the support of them,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.62,0:05:01.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and among these is math.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.39,0:05:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All that makes science be science\Nis the rigor of math.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.76,0:05:09.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that rigor belongs to it\Nbecause its results are eternal.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.61,0:05:12.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably you said before,\Nor you were told sometime,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.07,0:05:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that diamonds are \Nforever, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.51,0:05:18.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It depends on what one\Nunderstands by forever!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.93,0:05:22.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A theorem, that really\Nis forever! (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.60,0:05:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Pythagorean theorem,\Nthat is still true
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.15,0:05:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if Pythagoras is dead,\NI'm telling you. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.26,0:05:32.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if the world collapsed the\NPythagorean theorem would still be true.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.91,0:05:38.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wherever any two sides and a\Ngood hypotenuse get together (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.54,0:05:48.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Pythagorean theorem works\Nto the max. (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.61,0:05:51.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, us mathematicians\Ndevote ourselves to making theorems.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.03,0:05:55.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eternal truths. But it isn't always\Neasy to know what is an
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.94,0:05:59.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eternal truth, a theorem, and\Nwhat is a mere conjecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.24,0:06:02.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You need a demonstration.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.87,0:06:08.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example: imagine you have\Na big, enormous, infinite field.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.98,0:06:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to cover it with equal pieces,\Nwithout leaving any gaps.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.74,0:06:14.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could use squares, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.87,0:06:19.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could use triangles.\NNot circles, those leave little gaps.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.58,0:06:21.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is the best piece I can use?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.00,0:06:26.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one that to cover the same surface\Nhas the smallest border.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.10,0:06:31.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pappus of Alexandria, in the year 300\Nsaid the best was to use hexagons,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.09,0:06:34.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like bees do.\NBut he didn't demonstrate it!
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.60,0:06:37.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The guy said "hexagons, great,\Ncome on, hexagons, let's go with it!"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.57,0:06:41.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He didn't demonstrate it, he stayed\Nin a conjecture, he said "Hexagons!"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.32,0:06:45.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the world, as you know, split into\Npappists and anti-pappists,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.43,0:06:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until 1700 years later,\N1700 years later,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.23,0:06:57.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in 1999 Thomas Hales\Ndemonstrated that Pappus
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.25,0:07:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the bees were right,\Nthe best was to use hexagons.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.36,0:07:03.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that became a theorem,\Nthe honeycomb theory,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.86,0:07:05.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will be true forever\Nforever and ever,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.03,0:07:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for longer than any diamond\Nyou may have. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.26,0:07:11.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what happens if we go to 3 dimensions?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.72,0:07:17.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I want to fill the space, with equal\Npieces, without leaving any gaps,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.39,0:07:18.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can use cubes, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.03,0:07:23.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not spheres, those leave little gaps.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.05,0:07:25.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is the best piece\NI can use?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.62,0:07:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lord Kelvin, the one of the Kelvin degrees\Nand all said, he said
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.60,0:07:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the best was to use a\Ntruncated octahedron (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.17,0:07:49.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that as you all know (Laughter)\Nis this thing over here! (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.10,0:07:53.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Come on! Who doesn't have a truncated\Noctahedron at home? (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.89,0:07:56.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if it's plastic. Kid, bring\Nthe truncated octahedron, we have guests.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.69,0:08:01.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody has one! (Laughter)\NBut Kelvin didn't demonstrate it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.28,0:08:05.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He stayed in a conjecture,\NKelvin's conjecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.70,0:08:12.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The world, as you know, split between\Nkelvinists and anti-kelvinists (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.39,0:08:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until a hundred-and-something years later,\Na hundred-and-something years later,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.86,0:08:23.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone found a better structure.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.71,0:08:28.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Weaire and Phelan, Weaire and Phelan\Nfound this little thing over here,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.66,0:08:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) this structure they put the\Nimaginative name of
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.75,0:08:38.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Weaire-Phelan structure. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.77,0:08:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It seems like a strange thing\Nbut it isn't that strange,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.22,0:08:42.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's also present in nature.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.84,0:08:47.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's very curious that this structure,\Nbecause of its geometric properties,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.43,0:08:51.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was used to build\Nthe swimming building
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.05,0:08:53.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Beijing Olympic Games.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.86,0:08:57.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There Michael Phelps won\N8 gold medals, and became
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.12,0:08:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the best swimmer of all times.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.68,0:09:03.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, of all times\Nuntil someone better comes along, no?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.07,0:09:05.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As it happens to the\NWeaire-Phelan structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.70,0:09:08.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the best until something better\Nshows up.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.51,0:09:12.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But be careful, because this one\Nreally has the opportunity,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.68,0:09:17.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if a hundred-and-something years\Npass, even if it's in 1700 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.81,0:09:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone demonstrates that this\Nis the best piece possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.64,0:09:27.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then it will be a theorem,\Na truth forever, forever and ever.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.93,0:09:31.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For longer than any diamond.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.59,0:09:39.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, well, if you want to tell someone\Nyou'll love them forever (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.87,0:09:42.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can give them a diamond,\Nbut if you want to tell them
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.32,0:09:47.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you'll love them forever and ever,\Ngive them a theorem! (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.97,0:09:53.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, you'll have to demonstrate,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.16,0:09:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that your love doesn't stay a conjecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.14,0:09:59.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.100,0:10:04.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.