Welcome From Marcus du Sautoy
Count yourself in
Want to search for the patterns yourself? Open Univesity courses could offer one way of taking it further.
Channelling numbers
If it's dedicated to prime numbers, why is Music of the Primes on BBC FOUR? Find out more about the programme.
About our expert
This article was specially written for Open2.net by the series presenter, Marcus du Sautoy. Get to know your guide through the prime jungle: Meet Marcus.
Prime numbers have fascinated people for centuries and I’m no exception. I live in a prime obsessed world. I have a prime number of children – twin girls - and a boy makes three. My house number is prime, 53; my car registration is prime, 47; my car is a Primera!
I even persuaded the football team I play for to wear prime number shirts. So we do, from 2 up to 41. And, ever since, the results have been remarkable. We’ve shot to the top of the league.
But my other passion is the search for patterns and the primes offer the ultimate challenge. These fundamental numbers look as wild as stars in the night sky. How did Nature choose the primes?
This is the story of a 2000-year journey across cultures and continents in humankind’s attempts to solve the riddle of these enigmatic numbers. Welcome to The Music of the Primes.
Content last updated: 12/09/2005
