BBC2 (UK TV) us just coming to the end of a 1-hour program, at prime-time, 100% packed full of real maths. No flashy videos or dumb jokes... discussion of conditional probability, proving there are an infinite number of primes, discussing what a 'proof' is, etc. Just like I remember from my youth... I can't imagine it's popular since even I didn't find it dumbed down and I have a degree in a related subject, but I'm impressed to see a 'pure maths' program on mainstream TV. Take that, ADD! edit: now they're trying to get the general public to visualise 4D space. That's just plain mean!

Kudos to BBC2!

Quote: Original post by d000hg
edit: now they're trying to get the general public to visualise 4D space.

I love watching people try that...

What was it about? And what was it called? I hope that with the trend of the beeb having more channels than they do decent content, that they'll start to put on more stuff of this flavour.

I remember the head of the BBC getting grilled on newsnight or something because they had channels seemingly devoted to absolute tripe. Show after show about housecleaning, antique pricing, jeremy kyle-alikes...

I know in the past there has been a ratings war, but with so many channels to choose from I think biggies like BBC/ITV will hopefully focus on delivering good, specific shows to entertain a niche rather than just background noise TV (of which there is boundless amounts).

Quote: Original post by Winegums
What was it about? And what was it called?

It was Horizon, it was a professor of mathematics trying to get Alan Davies(the guy from Jonathan Creek) to be interested in maths.

If you live in the uk you can watch it online.

Great stuff.

http://www.dimensions-math.org has very good material on howto visualize the 4th dimension.
(I failed, though)

Quote: Original post by d000hg
BBC2 (UK TV) us just coming to the end of a 1-hour program, at prime-time, 100% packed full of real maths. No flashy videos or dumb jokes... discussion of conditional probability, proving there are an infinite number of primes, discussing what a 'proof' is, etc.

Just like I remember from my youth... I can't imagine it's popular since even I didn't find it dumbed down and I have a degree in a related subject, but I'm impressed to see a 'pure maths' program on mainstream TV.

Take that, ADD!

edit: now they're trying to get the general public to visualise 4D space. That's just plain mean!

Hmm, UK (and western europe) seem to be doing whole ton better with science. I was mostly referring to american shows that are sometimes aired here (Lithuania) with translation, and stuff I seen on internet (somehow, in US shows made before soviet union fell, techno-geeks were pretty much heros, see McGuyver as example [horrible science in it, too, but meh]. In shows after, those only exist for jokes). Though there is a trend to air more BBC.

Quote: Original post by d000hg
but I'm impressed to see a 'pure maths' program on mainstream TV.

Pure maths is pure metaphysics. I love mathematical physics; there is nothing i hate more than pure math. Die, destructor of my precious time, die!