Happy Catastrophe
Are catastrophes avoidable? Are wars or even family rows inevitable? What does an inflation explosion and a moth's wing have in common?
Tonight's Horizon shows that surprisingly we may have come much closer to being able to avoid catastrophes through a discovery in mathematics - Catastrophe theory. This suggests that wars, cracks in metal and even flowers all unfold in the same way. The theory describes the shape of all possible unfoldings and its applications may be able to help us navigate through life with a little more understanding and compassion.
Editor PETER GOODCHILD
Written and produced by DENIS POSTLE