[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.46,0:00:25.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can imagine: You're in a bar,\Nor, you know, a disco,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.87,0:00:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like that, and you start talking\Nto a girl, and after a while
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.68,0:00:34.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this comes up in the conversation:\N"and what do you do?"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.25,0:00:42.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as you think your job is interesting\Nyou say: "I'm a mathematician." (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.08,0:00:46.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,33.51 % of girls (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.63,0:00:52.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in that moment pretend to get\Nan urgent call and leave. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.18,0:01:00.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And 64.69 % of girls desperately try\Nto change the topic and leave. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.38,0:01:05.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a 0.8 % made up by your cousin,\Nyour girlfriend and your mother (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.18,0:01:09.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that knows you work in something weird but\Ndon't remember what (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.66,0:01:12.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's a 1 % that\Nfollows the conversation.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.55,0:01:16.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When that conversation\Nfollows, invariably
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.19,0:01:18.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in some moment, one of these\Ntwo phrases shows up:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.60,0:01:22.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A) "I was terrible at math,\Nbut it wasn't my fault,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.10,0:01:25.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's that the teacher\Nwas horrendous." (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.31,0:01:29.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And B) "But that math thing,\Nwhat is it for?" (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.29,0:01:33.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll deal with case B.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.32,0:01:36.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When someone asks you what\Nmath is for,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.91,0:01:40.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're not asking you about the\Napplications of mathematical sciences.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.80,0:01:43.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're asking you:\N"And why did I have to study
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.30,0:01:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that bullshit I never used\Nagain in my life?" (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.31,0:01:48.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what they're asking you really.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.99,0:01:50.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Given this, when they ask\Na mathematician
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.03,0:01:54.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what math is for, us\Nmathematicians split in two groups.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.95,0:02:00.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A 54.51 % of mathematicians\Nassumes an attacking posture,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.02,0:02:06.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a 44.77 % of mathematicians\Nassumes a defensive posture.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.14,0:02:09.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a strange 0.8 %,\Namong which I include myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.82,0:02:11.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who are the ones who attack?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.88,0:02:14.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The attacking ones are mathematicians\Nthat tell you the question
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.00,0:02:19.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,makes no sense, because mathematics\Nhave their own sense by themselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.23,0:02:22.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're a beautiful edification with\Nits own logic built by itself
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.26,0:02:26.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that there's no use in one always\Nlooking after the possible applications.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.19,0:02:28.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's the use of poetry?\NWhat's the use of love?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.56,0:02:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's the use of life itself? \NWhat kind of question is that? (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.05,0:02:37.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hardy, for example, is an\Nexponent of this attack.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.35,0:02:38.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those who stand in \Ndefense tell you that
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.64,0:02:45.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if you can't notice, dear,\Nmath is behind everything. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.10,0:02:50.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They always name bridges\Nand computers, always.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.03,0:02:55.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you don't know math,\Nyour bridge falls off. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.11,0:02:58.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In reality computers\Nare all about math.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.23,0:03:01.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now these guys always happen\Nto tell you that behind
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.04,0:03:05.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,information security and credit\Ncards are prime numbers.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.64,0:03:09.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are the answers your math teacher\Nwill give you if you ask him.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.02,0:03:12.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those are the defensive ones.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.86,0:03:14.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, but, who's right then?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.42,0:03:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those who say math doesn't need\Nto be useful at all,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.80,0:03:18.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or those who say that it's really\Nbehind everything?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.83,0:03:21.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In reality both are right.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.36,0:03:25.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I told you I'm of that strange 0.8 %\Nthat says something else, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.51,0:03:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, go on, ask me\Nwhat math is for.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.36,0:03:32.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Audience asks the question)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.73,0:03:40.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay! A 76.34 % of people\Nhave asked, there's a 23.41 %
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.18,0:03:44.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that shut up, and a 0.8 % that\NI don't know what those guys are doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.67,0:03:50.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, dear 76.31 %, it's true\Nthat math can be
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.92,0:03:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,useless, it's true that it's\Na beautiful edification,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.64,0:03:57.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a logical one, one probably one of\Nthe greatest collective efforts
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.65,0:04:00.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the human being has ever made\Nalong history.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.34,0:04:04.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's also true that there where\Nscientists, where technicians,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.20,0:04:09.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are looking for mathematical theories,\Nmodels that allow them to advance,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.10,0:04:10.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there they are, in the edification\Nof math, which permeate everything.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.03,0:04:16.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's true that we have to go\Nsomewhat deeper,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.54,0:04:17.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're going to see what's\Nbehind science.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.02,0:04:22.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Science works by intuition,\Nby creativity, and math
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.32,0:04:25.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dominate intuition\Nand tame creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.81,0:04:30.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Almost everyone who hasn't heard it before\Nis surprised by the fact that if one took
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.45,0:04:35.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a sheet of paper 0.1 mm thick,\None of those we use normally,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.69,0:04:39.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,big enough, and that I\Ncould fold 50 times,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.11,0:04:45.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thickness of that pile would take up\Nthe distance from the Earth to the Sun.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.43,0:04:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your intuition tells you: "Impossible."\NDo the math and you'll see it's right.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.23,0:04:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what math is for.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.88,0:04:56.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It true that science, all science,\Nnot only has a purpose
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.10,0:04:59.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it makes us understand better\Nthe beautiful would we're in.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.82,0:05:03.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because it does, it helps us\Navoid the traps
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.04,0:05:04.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this painful world\Nwe're in.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.83,0:05:08.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are sciences that grasp\Nthis very application.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.44,0:05:10.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oncological science, for example.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.04,0:05:13.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are others we look\Nfrom afar, with some jealousy sometimes,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.53,0:05:16.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but knowing we are what supports them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.08,0:05:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the basic sciences\Nare the support of them,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.62,0:05:21.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and among these is math.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.39,0:05:24.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All that makes science be science\Nis the rigor of math.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.76,0:05:29.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that rigor belongs to it\Nbecause its results are eternal.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.61,0:05:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Probably you said before,\Nor you were told sometime,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.07,0:05:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that diamonds are \Nforever, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.51,0:05:38.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It depends on what one\Nunderstands by forever!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.93,0:05:42.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A theorem, that really\Nis forever! (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.60,0:05:46.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Pythagorean theorem,\Nthat is still true
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.15,0:05:49.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even if Pythagoras is dead,\NI'm telling you. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.26,0:05:52.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if the world collapsed the\NPythagorean theorem would still be true.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.91,0:05:58.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wherever any two sides and a\Ngood hypotenuse get together (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.54,0:06:08.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Pythagorean theorem works\Nto the max. (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.61,0:06:11.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, us mathematicians\Ndevote ourselves to making theorems.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.03,0:06:15.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eternal truths. But it isn't always\Neasy to know what is an
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.94,0:06:19.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eternal truth, a theorem, and\Nwhat is a mere conjecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.24,0:06:22.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You need a demonstration.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.87,0:06:28.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example: imagine you have\Na big, enormous, infinite field.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.98,0:06:32.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to cover it with equal pieces,\Nwithout leaving any gaps.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.74,0:06:34.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could use squares, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.87,0:06:39.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could use triangles.\NNot circles, those leave little gaps.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.58,0:06:41.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is the best piece I can use?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.00,0:06:46.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one that to cover the same surface\Nhas the smallest border.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.10,0:06:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pappus of Alexandria, in the year 300\Nsaid the best was to use hexagons,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.09,0:06:54.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like bees do.\NBut he didn't demonstrate it!
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.60,0:06:57.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The guy said "hexagons, great,\Ncome on, hexagons, let's go with it!"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.57,0:07:01.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He didn't demonstrate it, he stayed\Nin a conjecture, he said "Hexagons!"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.32,0:07:05.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the world, as you know, split into\Npappists and anti-pappists,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.43,0:07:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until 1700 years later,\N1700 years later,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.23,0:07:17.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in 1999 Thomas Hales\Ndemonstrated that Pappus
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.25,0:07:21.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the bees were right,\Nthe best was to use hexagons.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.36,0:07:23.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that became a theorem,\Nthe honeycomb theory,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.86,0:07:25.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will be true forever\Nforever and ever,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.03,0:07:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for longer than any diamond\Nyou may have. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.26,0:07:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what happens if we go to 3 dimensions?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.72,0:07:37.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I want to fill the space, with equal\Npieces, without leaving any gaps,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.39,0:07:38.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can use cubes, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.03,0:07:43.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not spheres, those leave little gaps.\N(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.05,0:07:45.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is the best piece\NI can use?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.62,0:07:50.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lord Kelvin, the one of the Kelvin degrees\Nand all said, he said
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.60,0:07:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the best was to use a\Ntruncated octahedron (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.17,0:08:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that as you all know (Laughter)\Nis this thing over here! (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.10,0:08:13.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Come on! Who doesn't have a truncated\Noctahedron at home? (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.89,0:08:16.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if it's plastic. Kid, bring\Nthe truncated octahedron, we have guests.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.69,0:08:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everybody has one! (Laughter)\NBut Kelvin didn't demonstrate it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.28,0:08:25.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He stayed in a conjecture,\NKelvin's conjecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.70,0:08:32.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The world, as you know, split between\Nkelvinists and anti-kelvinists (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.39,0:08:38.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until a hundred-and-something years later,\Na hundred-and-something years later,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.86,0:08:43.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone found a better structure.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.71,0:08:48.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Weaire and Phelan, Weaire and Phelan\Nfound this little thing over here,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.66,0:08:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) this structure they put the\Nimaginative name of
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.75,0:08:58.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Weaire-Phelan structure. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.77,0:09:01.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It seems like a strange thing\Nbut it isn't that strange,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.22,0:09:02.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's also present in nature.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.84,0:09:07.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's very curious that this structure,\Nbecause of its geometric properties,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.43,0:09:11.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was used to build\Nthe swimming building
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.05,0:09:13.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Beijing Olympic Games.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.86,0:09:17.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There Michael Phelps won\N8 gold medals, and became
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.12,0:09:19.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the best swimmer of all times.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.68,0:09:23.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, of all times\Nuntil someone better comes along, no?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.07,0:09:25.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As it happens to the\NWeaire-Phelan structure,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.70,0:09:28.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the best until something better\Nshows up.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.51,0:09:32.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But be careful, because this one\Nreally has the opportunity,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.68,0:09:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if a hundred-and-something years\Npass, even if it's in 1700 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.81,0:09:43.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone demonstrates that this\Nis the best piece possible.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.64,0:09:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then it will be a theorem,\Na truth forever, forever and ever.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.93,0:09:51.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For longer than any diamond.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.59,0:09:59.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, well, if you want to tell someone\Nyou'll love them forever (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.87,0:10:02.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can give them a diamond,\Nbut if you want to tell them
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.32,0:10:07.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you'll love them forever and ever,\Ngive them a theorem! (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.97,0:10:13.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, you'll have to demonstrate,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.16,0:10:16.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that your love doesn't stay a conjecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.14,0:10:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.100,0:10:24.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.