Probability weaves an intricate thread through life, never more tragically visible than in times of catastrophe like wars, hurricanes, financial collapses, and pandemics. An accidental discovery in the mathematical theory of chance dating to the immediate aftermath of the French Revolution remarkably provides a skein connecting all these apparently disparate, chance-driven events, and provides a startling clarity of vision. We explore the ramifications of this discovery in realms apparently far apart, starting from the sad story of a birthday cake and proceeding to a once-in-a-century pandemic which has changed the lives of all the world’s inhabitants — with a detour through mishaps in trials by jury and a side-helping of war and devastation — and discover an elegant commonality and simplicity of understanding of the progress of these complex events. Probability weaves an intricate thread through life, never more tragically visible than in times of catastrophe like wars,…

Watch the video here >>