In January 1980, in his Lucasian Inaugural Lecture, Stephen Hawking provocatively asked if theoretical physics was finished. His biographer traces the background to and afterlife of Hawking's bold claim.
In 1963 soon-to-be Prime Minister Harold Wilson gave one of the most iconic speeches in UK politics. The future would be forged in the 'white heat of technology'. It still resonates.
But for one attendee, might it not have been better titled 'the white heat of mathematics'?
Understanding pattern formation? Explaining neuronal signalling? Finding potential new therapies for certain cancers? Stripes on football shirts (non-bio)? Philip Maini's got them all covered.
The final lecture in James Munro's 'Introduction to University Mathematics' course is now free-to-air. It contains a lot of negativity. At least of the number variety.