Infinitely big,
Infinitely small

The elegance we find in nature has many origins in the physical laws governing the creation of all possible patterns and structures, whether in the macroscopic or the microscopic world.

From ancient Greek philosophy to modern science, humans have sought to identify and understand these patterns by drawing on scientific knowledge to model natural phenomena, and possibly to predict, simulate and even control them.

No matter the field, any scientific model can be expressed mathematically, at any scale – from deep space to a subatomic level.

Einstein’s famous equation E=mc² describes mass–energy equivalence, a model that revolutionised astrophysics by offering new keys to understanding phenomena such as the curvature of space-time or black holes.

And, on the opposite side of the scale, symmetric patterns and geometric shapes help us understand and model how atoms are arranged in crystals.

Deep space and atoms, both unreachable and invisible to the naked eye, become perceptible and intelligible thanks to mathematical concepts.

The wide applicability and incredible efficiency of mathematics in describing the laws of the universes have always fascinated scientists, thinkers, and artists alike, who are continuously inspired by it and appropriate it in the most creative ways to imagine and invent.

This remarkable power raises an enticing question that has been hotly debated for centuries: is mathematics invented or discovered?