Bobby Fischer:  His Genius, his Psychosis and the Chess “Game of the Century”

     Bobby Fischer was one of the greatest chest players in history. Yet, his life story runs the gamut of stunning chess mastery and international “pop” stardom, to a socially mean-spirited entity, suffering from severe personality disorder. Originating in the Indian and Persian regions during the 6th century, chess as a leisurely pastime was eventually organized by European players in the 19th century who made it sophisticated, serious, and more strategic. Indeed, so much so had the game of chess developed, that by the 20th century, and especially in the mind of Bobby Fischer, the game progressed into a ruthless international pursuit that became the only thing worth anything.  Read More

Mathematics in the Arts:

Film’s Depiction of Number Theory, Madness, and the Enigma of “Pi”

     If overnight, a crop circle showed up in your back yard, would you be surprised to find neighbors, friends and mathematicians staring at it in the morning? The role of a number theorist has recently transitioned from the scientific laboratory into the broad spectrum of film media, asserting that problems in mathematical calculation “find their parallel in reality, proving that math imitates life no less than art does.” Read More