NOVA - Infinite Secrets: The Genius of Archimedes
 | WGBH Boston, 2003, DVD |
|---|
In 1991, a small Medieval prayer book was sold at auction. Miraculously, some original writings of Archimedes, the brilliant Greek mathematician, were discovered hidden beneath the religious text. Through scholarly detective work with the help of modern technology, this book now reveals Archimedes’ stunningly original concepts, ideas, and theories—revelations that, if known sooner, might have reshaped our world.
Many historic figures have been hailed as ahead of their time. Few—if any—are said to be centuries ahead of their time. The Einstein of his era, Archimedes had a sophisticated understanding of mathematics, and designed marvelous war machines for his native Syracuse to use against the invading Romans. Many of Archimedes’ works disappeared during the Middle Ages, but some survived to help inspire the scientific revolution in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. One document that seemed irretrievably lost was his final treatise The Method, which reputedly explained how he achieved his brilliant results—secrets he revealed nowhere else. Now, over 2200 years later, the discovery of The Method has experts and scientists dreaming of what might have been if Renaissance thinkers and other great minds had known of his ideas and been able to build on them.
NOVA explores Archimedes’ rare writings, as well as the book’s mysterious beginnings, tumultuous history and amazing discovery. As the ancient text comes back from the dead, it unlocks its revolutionary contents—the infinite secrets of one of history’s greatest thinkers.
Special DVD features include: activities for educators; materials and activities for librarians; a link to the Infinite Secrets Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.
On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.
Title: NOVA - Infinite Secrets: The Genius of Archimedes
Sales Rank: 21547 in DVD
Studio: WGBH Boston, 2004-01-06, Theatrical Release: 2003
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.33:1
Languages: English (Original Language)
Audience Rating: Unrated
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 60 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.2 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches, 0.18 pounds
- Rather brief
- I had purchased this hoping it to be more about Archimedes. Instead it follows the discovery of a manuscript with Archimedes writings on it. I have read the book that inspired this documentary and it covers the subject briefly but well.… More reviews
- Prepare to be disappointed
- I used to enjoy NOVA but not lately. Like most American produced TV this is really dumbed down. This particular NOVA is typical - lots of sizzle and a bit of steak. Perhaps I was expecting too much. I wanted to learn more about Archimedes and his work. Instead I got lot's of information about how a 10th copy of Archimedes manuscript was oblitereated with religous… More reviews
- excellent companion to The Archimedes Codex
- I finished reading The Archimedes Codex and enjoyed that immensely. Then I found this NOVA program covering the same ground in a more accessible format. It is a very good summary of the book in many ways and introduces a number of the main contributors to the project.
If you have not read the book, then you will probably want to after… More reviews
- Great Man
- Archimedes was a mathematical visionary who was ahead of his time, and if his work was used earlier, we would be far more advanced than we are today mathematically, and probably technologically. This discovery has been made by reading his lost manuscript, which has been found and restored by scientists. Archimedes also discovered a way to measure volume by water displacement.… More reviews
- Eureka - they have found Archimedes' long-lost, most important treatise
- This is an utterly fascinating documentary. Not only does it help cast Archimedes in an even more important light than ever, it details one of the most amazing "lost book" stories I've ever read. Lost for over a millennium, then discovered, then lost again for decades, then rediscovered, the last known copy of Archimedes' greatest work has finally reemerged,… More reviews
