In this series of posts, we’ll be featuring mathematical video and streaming channels from all over the internet, by speaking to the creators of the channel and asking them about what they do.
We spoke to Nils Berglund, whose YouTube channel features animations and simulations, “to show that mathematics and physics can be beautiful.”
Channel title: Nils Berglund
Link: youtube.com/@NilsBerglund/
Topics covered: Simulations of mathematical and physical models, including billiards, the wave equation and optics, fluid mechanics, quantum systems, interacting particle systems and percolation.
Average video length: 3-4 minutes
Recommended videos: See below; also here is a list of tutorials on the channel
What is your channel about, and when did it start?
I created this channel in 2012, to host some videos of simulations used for mathematics outreach activities. When the channel became popular in 2021, I started posting on a regular basis. Most videos show simulations of mathematical models (billiards, reaction-diffusion equations) or physical systems (wave optics, interacting atoms, chemical reactions, quantum physics, phase transitions). There are also a few tutorials in which I explain how the simulations are made, or some particular question from mathematics or physics.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a university professor at Institut Denis Poisson, the common mathematics institute of CNRS, Université d’Orléans and Université de Tours, France. My main activities are research in mathematics (mainly probability theory and stochastic processes) and teaching to undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics, computer science and economics.
Who is the intended audience for the channel?
Basically any person interested in mathematics or physics, or open to the beauty of these simulations. This includes high school and university students and professionals with an interest in science and technology, but also fellow academics and lay people with an interest in science.
What is a typical video like, and how often are they released?
Since April 2021, I have published one video every single day. The videos are typically quite short, just a few minutes, and show a simulation with background music and additional information in the video description. Some videos show longer simulations, and there are also a few tutorials, which can last up to one hour.
Why is your channel different to other mathematical video content?
While there are many channels by professionals focussing on a particular problem or question, I don’t think there are many channels with such an extensive list of simulation topics. There are often interesting interactions with viewers via comments, and these interactions often influence the choice of new simulation topics.
What are some highlights of the channel so far?
It is hard to make a selection among over 1500 videos, but here are some which are either popular, or which I am particularly happy with:
Parabolic reflectors (or antennae)
3D waves flowing over Sierpinski carpets
DNA-like molecules
A lighthouse beam in a von Koch snowflake fractal
3D waves in a 2D Julia set (collaboration with musician Duke Jamal)
Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock reaction-diffusion equation
A Carnot cycle
Tesla valves
Von Kármán vortices
Zooming out of Bernoulli site percolation configurations