The Code

Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, follows up his excellent 2008 BBC series The Story of Math (VL-5/10) with this three-part sequel that examines patterns lying beneath the apparent randomness of the universe—or, nature's code, in his terms. Unsurprisingly, these patterns prove to be mathematical, consisting of numerical constants (most notably pi and the prime numbers) that characterize the fundamental proportions and shapes occurring repetitively throughout the cosmos. The reason, according to du Sautoy, is that nature is “lazy”—always seeking out the most efficient means of achieving its ends. Du Sautoy is a knowledgeable, engaging host, who travels to awe-inspiring locales (like the Giant's Causeway on the Irish coast and the cathedral at Chartres) and illustrates his points with telling examples (ranging from the lifecycle of the cicada to Jackson Pollock's paintings), even visiting a researcher trying to produce snowflakes in a lab, and Pixar Studios in order to talk about fractals. However, du Sautoy ultimately concludes that while nature's code may be demonstrable, the multitude of variables in differing circumstances thwart our abilities to predict with absolute certainty, making the code—ironically—a “code of chaos.” DVD extras include a viewer's guide and three bonus featurettes: “Phi's the Limit” (on the golden ratio), “Go Forth and Multiply” (on an ancient Ethiopian mode of calculation), and “Imagining the Impossible” (on the art of M.C. Escher). Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)