hackertube.io

The Most Underrated Algorithm

Veritasium · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Information theory & signal processingAlgorithms & data structuresScientific method & science communication

What it is

Veritasium tells the story of the Fast Fourier Transform, from its use in detecting nuclear tests to Cold War politics, and how it could have changed the arms race. It includes a short, intuitive explanation of what the Fourier transform does.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN points people to it as the explanation that finally made Fourier transforms and the FFT click, with a good historical story.

  • 5 people recommended it
  • 3 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2022, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “The 2-minute brute-force explanation of Fourier transforms in a recent Veritasium video”

    Short brute-force explanation of Fourier transforms that clicked.

    kevlened, 2022-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Demystifying Fourier analysis”

  2. “That video did the same for me.”

    Video that made FFT concepts click, with fun history.

    kippinitreal, 2023-01 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: Concepts that clicked only years after you first encountered them?”

  3. “If you have 26 minutes spare, Veritaserum's video [0] on the history of FTs and FFTs is quite good.”

    History of Fourier transforms and the FFT.

    yunruse, 2022-11 · Recommendation · in “I over-engineered a Fast Fourier Transform for Arduino”

  4. “You might also like this recent Veritasium video on the link between the Nuclear test ban treaty and FFT.”

    Link between nuclear test ban treaty and the FFT.

    psychphysic, 2022-12 · Recommendation · in “Fascinating Interview with Martin Hellman of Diffie-Hellman Fame (2004)”

  5. “Veritasium has an explainer of the Fast Fourier Transform on youtube.”

    Explains the FFT, its uses and history.

    ourmandave, 2023-01 · Recommendation · in “The Fourier Transform, explained in one sentence”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: fft, fourier transform, signal processing, nuclear test ban, history of science

Also recommended by the same people