The Remarkable Story Behind The Most Important Algorithm Of All Time
The Fast Fourier Transform is used everywhere but it has a fascinating origin story that could have ended the nuclear arms race. This video is sponsored by 80,000 Hours. Head to to sign up for their newsletter and get sent a free copy of their in-depth career guide.
A huge thank you to Dr. Richard Garwin for taking the time to speak with us.
Thanks to Dr. Steve Brunton of the University of Washington for his help with understanding the Fast Fourier Transform.
Thanks to Dr. Cliff Thurber of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Paul Richards of Columbia University, and Dr. Steven Gibbons of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute for their expertise.
Thanks to Grant Sanderson of 3Blue1Brown for his helpful feedback on the script. His great video on the Fourier Transform is here -
▀▀▀
References:
Kristensen, H.M., Korda, M. (2022). Status of World Nuclear Forces. Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
Barth, K. H. (1998). Science and politics in early nuclear test ban negotiations. Physics Today, 51(3), 34-39. -
Schmalberger, T. (1991). In pursuit of a nuclear test ban treaty -
Bowers, D., & Selby, N. D. (2009). Forensic seismology and the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 37, 209-236 -
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS). (2022). How Often Do Earthquakes Occur?
Kimball, D. (2022). The Nuclear Testing Tally. Arms Control Association.
Kværna, T., & Ringdal, F. (2013). Detection capability of the seismic network of the International Monitoring System for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 103(2A), 759-772 -
Sykes, L. R., & Evernden, J. F. (1982). The verification of a comprehensive nuclear test ban. Scientific American, 247(4), 47-55 -
Peterson, J., & Hutt, C. R. (2014). World-wide standardized seismograph network: a data users guide (p. 82). US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey. -
Richards, P. G., & Kim, W. Y. (2009). Monitoring for nuclear explosions. Scientific American, 300(3), 70-77 -
Jacobsen, L. L., Fedorova, I., & Lajus, J. (2021). The seismograph as a diplomatic object: The Soviet–American exchange of instruments, 1958–1964. Centaurus, 63(2), 277-295 -
Schwartz S. I. (1998). The Hidden Costs Of Our Nuclear Arsenal: Overview Of Project Findings. The Brookings Institution -
Ricón, J.L. (2016). The Soviet Union: Military Spending. Nintil -
Heideman, M. T., Johnson, D. H., & Burrus, C. S. (1985). Gauss and the history of the fast Fourier transform. Archive for history of exact sciences, 265-277 -
Ford, D. (2004). Richard Garwin - Session IV. American Institute of Physics (AIP). -
Aaserud, F. (1986). Richard Garwin - Session I. American Institute of Physics (AIP). -
Goldstein, A. (1997). James W. Cooley, an oral history. IEEE History Center, Piscataway, NJ, USA -
Cooley, J., Garwin, R., Rader, C., Bogert, B., & Stockham, T. (1969). The 1968 Arden House workshop on fast Fourier transform processing. IEEE Transactions on Audio and Electroacoustics, 17(2), 66-76 -
▀▀▀
Special thanks to Patreon supporters:
Louis Lebbos, Elliot MIller, RayJ Johnson, Brian Busbee, Jerome Barakos M.D., Amadeo Bee, TTST, Balkrishna Heroor, Chris LaClair, John H. Austin, Jr., , Matthew Gonzalez, Eric Sexton, John Kiehl, Diffbot, Gnare, Dave Kircher, Burt Humburg, Blake Byers, Dumky, Evgeny Skvortsov, Meekay, Bill Linder, Paul Peijzel, Josh Hibschman, Mac Malkawi, Mike Schneider, John Bauer, jim buckmaster, Juan Benet, Sunil Nagaraj, Richard Sundvall, Lee Redden, Stephen Wilcox, Marinus Kuivenhoven, Michael Krugman, Cy ’kkm’ K’Nelson, Sam Lutfi, Ron Neal
▀▀▀
Written by Derek Muller & Felicity Nelson
Filmed by Derek Muller & Raquel Nuno
Animation by Ivy Tello, Jakub Misiek, Alex Drakoulis, and Fabio Albertelli
Edited by Albert Leung & Derek Muller
Research Assistant: Katie Barnshaw
Additional video/photos supplied by Pond5 and Getty Images
Music from Epidemic Sound
Produced by Derek Muller, Petr Lebedev, and Emily Zhang
1 view
0
0
4 months ago 00:03:44 1
BTS - “Permission to Dance“ performed at the United Nations General Assembly | SDGs | Official Video
4 months ago 00:19:52 1
McCann Industries MAS 49/56 in the Elbonian Royal Air Service
4 months ago 00:03:49 1
Kansas - Dust in the Wind (cover by Sershen&Zaritskaya)
4 months ago 00:00:18 1
Sukhoi Su-57 Executed a Flawless Touchdown on the Aircraft Carrier
4 months ago 00:03:28 1
Geert Wilders Warns Islamic, Arab Preachers for Issuing Fatwas | Dutch PM says “Not afraid of Imams“
4 months ago 00:12:31 1
Bruce Dickinson’s Rock Journey & Musical Influences: One Cover One Word Interview on Qobuz!
4 months ago 00:02:36 1
Hot Toys Batman 1989 Batmobile Unboxing | First Look
4 months ago 00:00:56 1
3 Year Old Tries to Break Board in Taekwondo #shorts
4 months ago 01:38:45 5
Aalto Architect of Emotions (2020)
4 months ago 00:37:21 1
Family “Music In A Dolls House“ 1968 vinyl full album
4 months ago 00:00:52 1
GMC Hummer All New 2025 Concept Car, AI Design
4 months ago 00:02:22 1
Vatican apologises after Pope Francis uses derogatory term for gay men
4 months ago 00:55:25 1
Miðgarðsormr, The Serpent Blade Viking Sword: Full Build from Start to Finish + Test Cuts
4 months ago 00:01:29 1
Atlanta Luxury Home: 9690 Almaviva Drive
4 months ago 00:00:00 1
Live: Putin Questions Zelensky’s Legitimacy, Accuses NATO of Stoking War with Long-Range Missiles
4 months ago 00:00:21 1
Belgian malinois - Jump | Dog training - Malinois | Belgian Malinois | #dog #belgianmalinois
4 months ago 00:16:45 1
Electric Love Festival 2023 – Opening Ceremony
4 months ago 00:01:24 1
Man’s wedding ring recovered from lake after 25 years
4 months ago 00:12:50 1
Only 1 view! And your ENEMIES will SHAKE | Destroy all the PLANS of Enemies and Envious
4 months ago 00:04:15 1
Hush Money Trial | Robert De Niro Slams Trump Outside The Court In Biden Campaign Message | G18V
4 months ago 00:15:52 1
Robert De Niro spars with bystander during remarks outside Trump trial
4 months ago 01:03:12 1
Intelligence Specialists Speak Out as War Looms: International Peace Coalition Meeting #51
4 months ago 00:00:35 1
This shrimp has the world’s strongest punch! || Mantis shrimp - Pistol shrimp #mantisshrimppunch
4 months ago 00:06:05 1
Judge Janine TRIGGERS Whoopi Goldberg LIVE on The View