Cosmic Code Breakers: The Secrets of Prime Numbers
Sunday 10th October 2010 from 10h30 to 12h30
Salle 2 / Grand Amphithéâtre
- Directed by
- Hideki Uematsu
- Written by
- Hideki Uematsu
- Produced by
- NHK
Documentary, Japan, 2009, 89 min
Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Prize
2, 3, 5, 7, 11… Behind the seemingly random sequence of prime numbers, mathematicians have long suspected a profound order. The key to solving this puzzle may be the Riemann Hypothesis. The Riemann Hypothesis is every math phobic's worst nightmare, yet it is one of the great unsolved problems of mathematics. Many math geniuses have tried and failed to unravel the mystery behind the distribution of prime numbers that can only be divided by 1 and itself.
Recent studies point to a link between primes and the physical laws that govern the natural world.
This program follows the stories of the geniuses who have been captivated by the mystique of primes, and their dramatic attempts to crack what many believe to be the Creator's code for the universe.
Debate with :
- Jean-Jacques Dupas, research engineer at CEA, military applications directorate - Project Laser Mega Joule
- François Morain, mathematician, Computer Science Laboratory of the École Polytechnique (LIX)