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

http://www.ted.com Science writer Margaret Wertheim re-creates the creatures of the coral reefs using a technique invented by a mathematician -- simultaneously celebrating the amazements of the reef, and deep-diving into the hyperbolic underpinnings of coral creation.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Margaret
• Wertheim
• TEDTalks
• TED
• talks
• crochet
• coral
• mathematics
• hyperbolic
• geometry
• feminine
• handicraft
• space
• infinite

[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.

[KDIZ930]

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

[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.

[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. .

[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 .... :)

[rutturu]

poor scientists become scientifical journalists :)

[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.