The Mystery of Beauty

Published: Dec. 4, 2023, 8 p.m.

Think about the last time you were struck by a gorgeous painting in a museum, or heard a song that brought you to tears. All of us know what it\u2019s like to be stopped in our tracks by a beautiful sight. But scientists are still puzzling over why this is the case. What\u2019s the point of beauty? Why is it seemingly so important to us? This week on the show, neuroscientist Anjan Chatterjee explains the function of beauty in our daily lives. Then, Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek describes how beauty served a purpose in some of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of our time.