Finding your next obsession
Finding your next obsession

NOVA leads viewers on a mathematical mystery tour -- a provocative exploration of math's astonishing power across the centuries. We discover math's signature in the swirl of a nautilus shell, the whirlpool of a galaxy and the spiral in the center of a sunflower. Math was essential to everything from the first wireless radio transmissions to the prediction and discovery of the Higgs boson and the successful landing of rovers on Mars. But where does math get its power? Astrophysicist and writer Mario Livio, along with a colorful cast of mathematicians, physicists and engineers, follows math from Pythagoras to Einstein and beyond, all leading to the ultimate riddle: Is math an invention or a discovery? Humankind's clever trick or the language of the universe?
LUXEN Decision Guide
A tension-first choice where uncertainty, investigation, or escalating pressure is a major part of the appeal.
Best fit
Who it is for
Best suited to viewers who want a plot with questions to chase rather than a purely relaxed watch.
Commitment
Light commitment · 54m
Use the runtime as a quick check against how much time you have tonight.
Start here
Read the synopsis.
Read the synopsis, then use the documentary and history cues to decide whether the tone fits.
Explore the same territory
Cast
Tap a cast member to discover more of their work.