Margaret Wertheim: The beautiful math of coral (and crochet)

[kstewintheart4u]

This video makes mathmatics understandable to the simple crochet person that i am . . . . .

[pooie0116]

Brilliant!

[theapeman10]

what a load of HYPERBOLICS

[superminimizer]

She has a very dismissive attitude towards scientists. Its not fair to bitch about mathematicians did not figure something out soon enough. They ended up discovering non-eucledian geometry in the end and this feminist is just making irrational complaints.

[rutturu]

poor scientists become scientifical journalists :)

[eIectrostatic]

Crochets are finite models just like the Poincaré Disk, the saddleback model, etc. The only new thing here is the use of crochet. Even as art, hyperbolic geometry was treated already in the early 20th century by the famous paintings of M.C. Escher, so hyperbolic geometry has already been introduced to art a century ago. So, again, nothing new here...

[eIectrostatic]

...In the last 100+ years several practical visualization models of hyperbolic geometry have appeared, for instance the famous Poincaré Disk which perfectly illustrates hyperbolic geometry. The challenge is anyway not to illustrate hyperbolic geometry as a finite plane but to illustrate it as infinite plane...

[eIectrostatic]

Her explanation of the views of mathematicians is factually grossly distorted and incorrect. Claiming that crochets solved anything regarding hyperbolic space is...well..simply ridiculous - to say the least!

Mathematicians didn't struggle with the concept of hyperbolic space, they invented it, formalized it and proved it to be a fully consistent geometry well before the 20th century. Einsten used hyperbolic to mathematically describe the curvature of space in his theory of general relativity...

[carriellbee]

9:58

Naturally.

[jmarinchak]

Simply Amazing. Very inspiring presentation!

[fordieform]

oh god she has a twin?

-hero

[ruelmeeks88]

i think she wants to beat up some mathametication

[tukkek]

I don't think she does - but if she did she would have a point = )

After all, she pretty much explains that for a long time mathematicians thought hyperbolic space was impossible, even though it's all around us in nature and art.

[idemthesame]

Amazing! Thank you Margaret and Christine!

[thisisapreviewvideo]

God works in fractals ways

[CaptainZeep]

∂/∂n {∫∫⅔f(Х;Ф)dХ} = 8=====D

suck my möbius dick

[strasheep]

how the furf did religion make its way in here?? this talk is great!

[Robinwhiteart]

This is wonderful. I am a Professional Fiber Artist and have been for 36 years. I always knew that what I did expressed something about human development over the last 50,000 years or so, but she takes it so much further. Finally someone is saying out loud something that is so important: that there are endlessly different ways to look at Science and Art and particularly what Women have done to further those forms. Weaving taught simple geometry to any person doing it from the time it began.

[PaxTorumin]

NO! ****ING HELL! **** ME!

I meant to pause the video and gave it a one star instead.

Youtube should really move the rating system away from the pause/play button.

****ING ****!

[david0aloha]

Back to topic though, this video is amazing. I am a very visual person and to really grasp something I find I need to develop a mental picture; though picture seems too simple, it's more a multi-dimensional picture and mindmap. This kind of simple and elegant approach is so ingenious. The potential for being both an educational and research tool is enormous - I love it!

[Robinwhiteart]

Thank you David0aloha for understanding the value of the approach seen in this Video and see my comment posted above for other thoughts on this subject as well. I am glad I came late to the ridiculous discussions here that seem to miss the point entirely of what this Video is about. Everyone is free to argue about everything, but why bother? It's such a pointless waste of energy that can be used more creatively, the Video being case in point. Make something, do something creative!

[david0aloha]

There are many schools of thought that believe in a higher consciousness, but Christianity isn't one of them. To be conscious is to be aware, and to be aware means you must seek to understand and question. Christianity promotes blind adherance to a being and his "son" that was born from a "virgin" (a "fact" agreed upon by a great religious debate referenced as the Council of Nicaea in order to reinforce the mystical attributes of the church). It's been used to start wars and kill non-believers

[watzupdawg]

I am surprised she didnt say that it also underscores human rights.

[Blackliam]

UNDER RATED

[kidmecha]

Interesting take on a global problem awareness, who knew crochet would be the only way to imitate coral structure...lol

Crochet power! *i'm sure there's some guys who like doing that too*

OMG, her sister goes to Calarts!!!?? that's so awesome!

[mrkvamaster]

good stuff

[jamaq]

"feminine handicraft" ???? WTF

[michaelholzleithner]

"...by literally, physically playing with ideas. "

This woman neither receives the applause nor the rating she deserves. Unfortunately you do need imagination to understand her message, something that is sadly lacking in our society.

[BenIGreen]

revolutionary. absolutely amazing.

[grannie4peace]

@michaelholzleithner i was astounded, she is brilliant in all ways. i like her sense of humor as much as her intellect . the world would be blest with a few more .... :)

[Songsmirth]

@michaelholzleithner You have a riight to your opinion of course but I enjoy seeing the art that math is. I always ask myself when encountering a person(s) like this, "are they making the world a better place?" The answer here is yes. I have to respect the intelligence and the amazing effort this took. There will always be people that will believe that the organization and makeup of the world and it's entities came out of now where but show me one person that has created a piece of grass. .

[KDIZ930]

i really thought i wasn't going to like this talk due to the title. i enjoyed being proven wrong.

[LUCIDity2009]

Im sorry this woman is 'crazy' ... I have a degree in math & oceangraphy but the principle of a 'knitted coral reef' is too stupid... why not get all that effort but together to pick off junk from a beach?

[zhimbo]

It isn't knitting. It's crochet.

[LUCIDity2009]

Ok then that makes it 'half as talented then'.. knitting involves two needles *giggles*

[intrepgun]

not everyone has the time to pick junk off a beach. perhaps they're landlocked. as a society, our main problem is lack of grassroots organization. this is perfect for a class of women who are essentially stuck inside a home and are marginalized and mocked. everyone needs creative work, and to have some output and connection to the group, which is now global. this is beautiful and far deeper than you are conditioned to believe it could be. think about it.

[BenIGreen]

congrats, you totally missed the point. your degree in math and oceanography (which you misspelled) apparently has not granted you the ability to see the relevance of art or physical engagement in understanding and progress.

[basakpalash007]

a colorful talk!

[zliberm0]

so ware they building coral reefs? dose that help the inviornment at all?

[soncekcar]

cool

[Durova]

She seems to presume understanding of both mathematics and crochet. Having done a hyperbolic plane several months ago, the most interesting part of it was watching the shape develop as it grew. It's possible for a crocheter to intuit the differences that went into some of the forms she showed, but if one understands that much already then the lecture isn't really necessary.

[some1honest]

that's exactly why i never understood math

[1schwererziehbar1]

gay.

[bluesrunthegame]

I crochet, have crocheted both coral and hyperbolic figures, but this talk is just uninteresting shit.

[igorkrupitsky]

I agree with her that crochet is a good way for visualizing hyperbolic geometry... However, I got a feeling the she sees abstract thinking a male way of thinking and is trying to attack it.

[cjdaweasel]

Why do all the cool talks get 5-10 minutes and the freakin stupid ones get 15 or more?

The thing should've been 2 minutes:

"We're crocheting the reef"

"It involves MAFF"

"Here's some pretty pictures"

"I'll be leaving now."

[Riptidescool]

Some people want the backround information behind what they see. The audience was there for a Darwein Birthday thing and there were all these guest speakers in behalf.

[beatisagg]

Can't lie this one was a little "meh"

[OneoftheImmortals]

I would like to know how Margaret Wertheim can relate hyperbolic geometry to fractal geometry; in particular, The Mandelbrot Set:

Z = z² + C

aka "THE FINGERPRINT OF GOD."

[OneoftheImmortals]

CaptainZeep, obviously you are a kid trolling this site in order to get back at your disdain for your teachers and learning.

Do yourself a favor and stay in school.

[beauxanddanherenow]

THE GAME

[seaweedpiano]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[tallownage]

you made me lose it~!!!!

[devourerofbabies]

I hate this fucking pseudo singing bullshit they play at the end of the video.

[rochet75]

FCUK THE POLICE

[325982668]

you spelled fuck wrong....

[rochet75]

i dont speek inglish

[logicalcognition]

lol softy likes to state the obvious. "the only way to combat this is to fix it"..uh

[softy1000]

Well, I don't see many people finding a solution. I see lots of people complaining about it, and that was what I was getting at in my post. If you don't like it, find a better way. If not, be quiet.

[LudicrousTachyon]

This gave me an epiphany. I never heard of hyperbolic space, yet I understood the infinite possible lines on a warped surface being parallel from reading about relativity. To think that simple creatures around for millions of years have had this kind of geometry, and that a simple change in pattern can make it look more realistic, reminds me of a previous TED talks guy who talked about how a missing piece of DNA creates symmetry. Through crochet they are adding "DNA" creating more complexity.

[PragnorVorn]

It's great how things are discovered, but did she have to rub mens faces in it that only women could have come up with it? Should men do the same I wonder...no, that would be sexist. Couldn't she have just said that 'me and my sister discovered this through crochet' and be done with it? For my whole life society has been telling me I am born a sexist, racist, sinner and sex addict before I even graduated primary school, and the only proof - I was a white male...so much for being treated equal.

[softy1000]

She didn't say that just women could have come up with this. If men were taught to crochet, or if crocheting was seen as a masculine thing to do, then I'm sure men would have come up with this. Femininity and Masculinity are just adjectives that describe the character of things. Because crocheting has been made an activity that only women do, it is feminine. It could just as easily have been masculine, if crocheting was an activity men did. It's all a matter of societal norms.

[PragnorVorn]

Hi Softy, I'd rather not try to 'fix it', I never claimed to have the answers and isn't that what Hitler did? He tried to fix the world to what he imagined it to be. No, the only thing I have control of is my own actions and I hope the world (me included) evolves out of the 'us vs them' mentality that has been stunting our development for so long. When the world can let go of feminine, masculine, religious and political beliefs, I think the world will be a nicer place to live in.

[softy1000]

"When the world can let go of feminine, masculine, religious and political beliefs, I think the world will be a nicer place to live in."

And I totally agree with you. To live your life the way you want to see society is what I meant by "fixing it". My problem is the complaining that I hear every day. I don't like when others just complain about the situation instead of being the solution. If you don't like it, do something about it. If not, be quiet. That was what I meant. Thank you. :-)

[PragnorVorn]

No worries ;-)

[softy1000]

She's not to blame, here. If you're unhappy with society, fix it! Plain and simple. But also know that you aren't the only one suffering...a lot of women still can't get good jobs or the right pay, simply because they are women. I feel your pain, though. The only way to combat this is to fix it.

[dreapster]

Yeah, I'm not going to bash this because some ppl find this interesting, but it's certainly not what I expected when I read the title......

[Arudoloff]

i like women, some more, others less. but generally i like them. and i like to think of them as equals. no really... equally human, that is.

it would be nice though if some women stopped tilting the gauge into the other direction. like as if men were tainted in some way. 'pure feminine labour'. jesus.

interesting and inspiring project though, and still a great talk!

[oggleman]

Did they intentionally exclude men from the project or was there simply not that many men interested in crocheting? I'm a man and I have no interest in crocheting.

[Arudoloff]

well, truth to be told, me neither. but what relevance does that have? what rubbed me the wrong way in her talk was that i got the impression of her taking a personal pleasure from sucessfully having 'excluded' men from her project. maybe like not using glutamate in good quallity food?

just imagine steve jobs presenting his newest gizmo as '80% pure male work'. (i guessed that number.) women interested in tech would be affronted, and rightly so, i presume.

[swiminthesoil]

So when reefs are in trouble, men rebuild them with reef balls, and women make crochet reefs. Wow, women are so useful!

[kalaway]

Very interesting ideas. I agree that it could have been presented better, the focus on women was rather odd and unnecessary. Beautiful though. I'd love to see one of their installations.

[Sh1nyboots]

I disagree. Crochet is something that many people, myself included, are quick to dismiss as being too sedentary and too domestic; perhaps something that should have been abandoned in a previous generation. To see it as having creative utility was surprising.

[Sh1nyboots]

(con't)

Also, there is a degree of historical irony when we try to imagine the attitudes of past (male) mathematicians who likely held condescending views on women and then juxtapose those attitueds the news that a female mathematician in 97' used crochet to explain hyperbolic geometry.

[kalaway]

My grandmother taught me to crochet as a child. I agree that it was very creative and beautiful, and wonderful that an old and everyday activity had the explanation to a problem.

What I disagreed with was the "them-us" mentality that she seemed to encourage. Those male mathematicians who didn't realize something what 'we' did. That 99% of those involved were women doing a "woman's craft". I don't think that mentality has ever done feminism any favors.

Again beautiful art though!

[Dhragonfly]

brilliant comment in regards to the video. I fully agree. She seems to promote a further differentiation between men and women, when really, we should learn to work together, as a species, rather than a division of said species.

[freesk8]

Well said.

We need to get beyond the battle of the sexes and sexism.

This is a bit reactionary.

She is brilliant and creative and beautiful and eloquent but she has a bit of a chip on her shoulder that may repel some people.

I wish her the best, and enjoyed the mathematics in her presentation.

[Charmander3535]

Is it me or was she saying 'pro' ject, i've never heard it pronounced like that

[malcolmbryant]

'Pro'ject is the British pronunciation. The speaker sounds South African, once part of the British empire/commonwealth.

[malcolmbryant]

Apologies. Just checked and she is Australian. Same point though regarding pronunciation.

[Charmander3535]

Thing is I am British and I still have never heard a single person pronounce it like that, perhaps its the Australian dialect of the English language?

[malcolmbryant]

I too am British and ALWAYS pronounce it the way that she does i.e "pro" as in "know"; not "proj" as in "lodge" which is an Americanism to my ear!

[Charmander3535]

Hahah that's funny perhaps because your older and the kids these days watch too much tv?

[creationismisstupid]

She is Australian.

[chubbychekker]

the nokia commercial at the end is incredibly interesting... they should have had a talk with those designers

[BaileysBeads]

I'm glad they got rid of the horrible BMW ad.

[VIPKINGsStalker]

what was so horrible about it?

[GetMeThere1]

This is an incredible project (and I use that adjective carefully). I think that ALL WOMEN, EVERYWHERE should drop whatever else they're doing, and join in on this project. I can't think of a better focus for the vast feminine power flowing throughout academic departments today.

[ratholin]

That nokia comercial at the end is terrible. I can't believe someone actually paid someone to make that. I mean I like nokia products but damn that comercial is absolutely annoying. Good talk though hooray hyperbolic geometry now I'll have something to think of when I read lovecraft and he keeps sayind noneuclydian.

[Fnexxi]

think of Hermann Hesse's "The Glass Bead Game".

[ratholin]

never read that. He wrote sidartha right? That was a good book.

[Keylimedelight]

More science, less art. All the shit ted talks are artist.

[dasdafoij]

you are wrong my friend.

MORE ART

MORE SCIENCE

[OneoftheImmortals]

Science is an art in search of the superlative elegant equation which will explain everything.

Being narrow minded places limits on what you allow yourself to learn.

[Keylimedelight]

Ok, your right I'm a douchbag.

[OneoftheImmortals]

Keylimedelight, perhaps you had the wrong teachers. I know I have something you will enjoy.

It is the The Mandelbrot Set set to Pink Floyd on my homepage. Hit "Play All" and watch it uninterrupted in its entirety.

Lite 'em up if you have 'em.

;-{)

[benthelush]

I would like to see science calculate infinity... perhaps there is more to knowledge than science can offer.

[1ucasvb]

Seriously, you have no clue about what you are talking about. Go study a bit of mathematics and science before saying nonsense like "science calculating infinity".

[benthelush]

I'm an electronics engineer, and have taken my share of math. What I am saying is that there is only ONE thing impossible to explain, infinity. This is interesting to me and many mathematicians because everything revolves around this concept, how can we prove anything that requires infinity is infinity is not proven, and that is why I say, do not put all your life into science because science naturally cannot explain everything.

[Thedreamshaperabc]

Just because we cant explain infinity that doesnt mean we do not know atleast some of its functions. And meaby that is enough ?..

and atleast it is a hell of a lot better than religion, no pun intended ;)

[benthelush]

I agree religeon does a terrible job at helping people gain understand though I do think infinity, nature, and emotions are evidence that there is a higher power than man. Personally I've seen things that are to amazing to explain with numbers.

[Thedreamshaperabc]

why is the existence of complex things "evidence" of a god or gods ?..

to a hamster society the concept of a book would be far beyond their comprehension but you dont see me pointing to my donald duck collection and going "GOD!"

:)

[flapjacks3276]

wow, damn nice argument.

[Craigdna]

Maybe for the same reason that the Devil is from the fire down below, like, maybe, a volcano, and the ingredients from volcanic gases that make people "Evil".

[Thedreamshaperabc]

please elaborate :)

[benthelush]

Because God always has and will continue to reveal himself to his creation till the day everyone is judged for the actions they made while alive on this earth. If you can explain how everything came into excistance and how we can still be alive today please let me know, but right now I'm going to believe in miracles, love, and my creator.

[Thedreamshaperabc]

"Because God always has and will continue to reveal himself to his creation till the day everyone is judged for the actions they made while alive on this earth"

Statements make for poor arguments :)

the second part, beginnings. Well if matter needs a start why doesnt god ? meaby it(matter) was always there, granted before the big bang it looked different(singularity). And how do you know it is a christian god, i assume extensive studies?

try google Víðarr

.. why isnt he god ?

[benthelush]

If there is another god that cand heal the sick, raise the dead, confort the weak, answer prayers, and work everything together for those that love him. Then I'll consider mentioning that god as a creator, but as it stand the Jewish/christian God is all those and more, thus he is our creator. God was not created, he was before time, space, and matter. So you think that everything came from nothing(big bang) and yet don't believe in God? Don't you now its impossible to form a star by gravity?

[Thedreamshaperabc]

i would like extensive objective evidence that he heals the sick, has raised the dead and answered prayers.

Well i dont know nearly enough about physics, i study mathematics and economics. But i believe that the physicists are more or less in agreement that the big bang was where it started.

The details should be left to scientific rigour and experts, not youtube threads.

Howcome god doesnt need a start but everything else apparently does ?

and "because he is god" isnt a propper answer :)

[SJRNWT]

One of the very few logical posts I've seen on Youtube. Bravo.

[BenIGreen]

watch more TED.

[Craigdna]

Good points to make. Near every galaxy, has star forming nebulaes at their center. The only thing that can escape a black hole, are gases. therefore, one can expect to see gases converging and coalescing on the other side of the black hole, and that directs us to nebulaes, the origins of stars. Steven Hawkings refers to singularities in the universe. However, in our current society, those singularities have become Hollywood stars, not stars of a galaxy.

[RantKid]

at this point science can't explain everything...

what about in 100 years? do you have any idea how much more we will know as a human race?

you're certainly right though, at this stage in our human evolution, nobody has enough evidence to prove or fully explain infinity. however, it should most definitely be questioned in the back of every person's mind

[benthelush]

2^100 but with increased knowledge comes increased things we did not know, at first we didn't know about cells, then organelles, then elements, then neutrons. for everything we discover we discover there is more we don't know. We will definately do, see, and know great things, but everything? Look at kids, they just keep asking why? why? why? and we say this, this this, and then I dont know! I don't know!! I don't know!!! So I say, knowledge is wonderful, but what is unknown is even greater!

[flapjacks3276]

how eloquently put, man i love reading the comments on TED videos, you read some incredibly smart things.

[Craigdna]

Infinity is the expansion of all the brains dendrites, simultaneously.

[benthelush]

I think that infinity is something that was placed in the human mind to keep them always thinking of the future and purpose and to humble them in their serach to know all things...

[Andrewticus04]

How can the infinite be understood without first fully understanding the finite?

Besides, it's almost like you don't even understand what infinity is. It is BY DEFINITION an unknown, unquantifiable and intangible concept. You simply cannot prove infinity because a proof of infinity would negate it as being infinite.

You ask for a scientific explanation for a philosophical concept, and it goes to show how little you know what you're talking about.

In(unable)finite(quantify) = Unquanitfyable

[benthelush]

Don't hate bro. I do know what I'm saying, I have been through University. My point is that because we cannot define it, and yet it is used in almost every proof, shows that the unknown is much more interesting than the known. I used to believe science could answer all my questions, but the unknown humbled me and I realized that my pride in science was not going to answer the things I really needed to know. So I am encouraging you guys to consider that maybe there is more to life...

[vysehrad]

If you thought science could answer all your questions, then you had never yet spoken to a scientist. To think such a thing would be a grave misunderstanding of the very nature of science. Second, discovering that science deals with reality, and in reality, we don't get to make up answers for everything we'd like to know, you decided to turn to something that would make up answers for you. But the mere fact that you find it your religion comforting doesn't make it true.

[benthelush]

You've said it "let God is true and every man a liar, It is NOT because I "feel" good that I follow God. Its that God chose me while I was a sinner and HE revealed Jesus to me, changed my life, and showed me supernatural things, and gave me the great task of preaching to the nations. No other religion can heal the sick, raise the dead, open the eyes of the blind, cast out demons, prophesy, love, and have peace. No other god can accomplish the things that our God does. Jesus loves you, God bless!

[vysehrad]

Some minor corrections: all religions claim to do all of those things, and no religion has ever offered a shred of evidence that it can. And Christianity is anything but a religion of peace. And what is a demon?

If you think that you have been shown supernatural things, what are they? Why does seeing supernatural things not cause you to wonder whether you should see a psychiatrist? Why do I not see any supernatural things? How do you know that you are following a god?

[benthelush]

Since we're on youtube, type "Benny Hinn Prays for DEAF and MUTE people" and

"Amazing Healing 3 : Parkinson Syndrome" only Jesus name can heal. Demons, are fallen angels that toture people and can enter into people and take control of their lives. I don't need a psychiatrist because my brain is 100% functional. You do see supernatural things every day, ever wonder how out of nothing everything was formed? I'm following God because once I was dead in sin, now I'm alive in Christ! God bless you!

[vysehrad]

No, names can not heal. If that were true, instead of going to a doctor, we would just say names. Demons are products of religious imagination. If you think you have witnessed miracles, you 100% need to see a psychiatrist. Antipsychotics can help.

I do not think everything was formed from nothing, that it not what the big band theory states. But even if it did, saying "god did it" does not logically follow. And there's no reason to suppose you get to make up an answer.

[vysehrad]

Heh, the big band theory, nice typo.

[sunrisewalker]

'since we're on youtube'?

how does that make your comment relevant and anything less than annoying?

[benthelush]

If hes looking for evidence I was simply giving him some guidence as to where to find it... but if he was simply wanting to believe that God doesn't exist then thats his choice. It is completely relevant only annoying to those that don't want to hear about Jesus and his love. God bless you!

[sunrisewalker]

Well, obviously only you are able to judge what you feel is relevant so I will leave that as it is.

But refrain from the "god bless" if you would. I are well aware from the tone of my earlier comment that I am likely not a Christian.

Either you are oblivious to the fact that this will offend me, don't care that it will offend me, or are looking to offend me in a way that grants you a safe cover.

So, in return, here's my blessing.

May the Serpent guide you.

[benthelush]

The second... I don't care if it will offend you, I genuinely want my God to bless you. It's up to you to accept it.

May your life be long and may you find all you seek for.

[sunrisewalker]

The fact that you want me to be blessed by a God that I think is a frightening infanticidal megalomaniac scares the heck out of me.

"Got it all wrong, holy man. I absolutely believe in God... And I absolutely hate the fucker."

[benthelush]

@exchangeisno Keep looking you'll see both God and I am doing something to help. I appreciate your concern for those that suffer. May you continue to grow in love.

[exchangeisno]

@benthelush

May I suggest that you keep studying and learn that nature is the only thing that counts in this world and that nature is incredibly mysterious and hard to pin down. From the infinitesimally small to the astronomically large....nature is much more mysterious and awe inspiring than any non-existent god.

I have to say your god is pretty useless and callous. If I had the powers you claim for him, I'd erradicate suffering in an instant.

Keep studying the nature..forget spooks.

[liquidminds]

there is no evidence for or against god. therefor YOU want to believe in god, and he just doesn't care.

There is not more evidence for christian god than there is for the flying spagetti monster.

therefor: may the flying spagettimonster bless you

[Future5305]

according to richard dawkings, its folks with an iq of 90 and lower that believe myth is fact.

[benthelush]

Well I guess I'm a fool, because I believe that the Bible is the true,living,breathing word of God... and there is hope for you too. Jesus died but rose again and you can to rise from spiritual death if you call on his name and ask him to save you.

[OneoftheImmortals]

benthelush, you're an electronics engineer and you know of no equation that takes into fact infinity? hmmm

Go see my post lower down; "The Mandelbrot Set;" it is all about infinity.

Better yet, go to my YouTube homepage and watch it in action. Just hit autoplay.

[benthelush]

I think you are mistaken, I said most proofs take into fact infinity, I have learned about the mandelbrot set, l'hospitals theorm, ect.

[asayogal]

Oh Keylime, open your eyes, all creation of any sort is indeed science and yes, I do believe science is also a beautiful art. Look into a microscope.

[Keylimedelight]

I've already said I'm a douchebag, please alow my confession to go gracefully sir.

[GuyTM]

If a guy was showing figurative paintings or something and kept calling them 'masculine art', he would have eggs thrown at him.

[JiyuuDaiIchi]

6:34 How did some of the best mathematicians take hundreds of years trying to model something?

[lvecsey]

"That's the way things are and the way they will always be" is a common thought passed on through the generations. It's damaging to the learning and discovery process. The older generation and folks that have gone before were just doing their best to figure things out.

[DavidMTRutten]

Pretty, and interesting. But why the focus on the feminine part of this? Last I checked science and mathematics were not gender-based.

[cosy18]

because is "fancy"

[HiAdrian]

...and self-defying. By treating women like children or other people with 'disabilities', they're sending a subliminal message that works against the intention of the statement :)

[Finiras]

because obviously the female sex is superior

/sarcasm

[DanHipp]

/agree. I can't imagine a man saying "99% of this project was completed by men". Especially at TED.

Oh well, the work stands on it's own, and it's pretty cool.

[Griffith101]

Every species has a dominant sex.....why would human beings be any differant?

[DanHipp]

If by dominant sex you mean that one imposes it's biological imperatives on another sex, then yes. If you mean one is "better" than another, then no, you're wrong. Men are better at some things, women at others. Period. I just disagree that excluding one gender from any endeavor is fruitful, even if the one doing the excluding is typically the one that's discriminated against.

[Thedreamshaperabc]

You mind, just for me that is. Making a function for determining af humans worth, take the countless variables, then take the countless humans and then when you reach a conclusive result.

Tell me what it is -_-

[asayogal]

The focus comes in when for example you go to a fabric store to buy crochet material, I've been a crocheter since 2nd grade and I've NEVER seen a guy enthralled with the tools of crochet, coveting yet another book full of beautiful patterns, or trying to figure out how to alter the hook to allow himself maximum comfort while "hooking" more very cool feminine crafty "stuff" There's nothing wrong with embracing our fundamental differences, as long as we respect each other at the same time.

[DavidMTRutten]

"I've been a crocheter since 2nd grade and I've NEVER seen a guy enthralled with the tools of croche"

Everybody knows men are much less likely to be occupied with handicraft. My question was why it was important to stress the point. To see just how ridiculous her emphasis is, try replacing "women" with "men".

Projects like these are personal accomplishments, they do not reflect on the gender of the majority of the participants. I fail to see how this affects the quality of the art.

[timeoutformike]

Woot ted :)

[baddmanaz]

thats bewdiful