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NOW 2010

How Kevin Bacon cured cancer

Audiovisuals

Free

How Kevin Bacon cured cancer explores the connection between people based on the sex degrees of separation theory. It is divided into two parts: the first part is about small worlds model and explaining why six degrees works. The second part brings the concepts of hubs and power-law degree distribution. At the end we learn more about network theory applications, in particular about cancer research.


The documentary, produced by the BBC, brings us a new view of the world, as we unfold the science behind the popular trivia game ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon’. Based on the idea that anyone on the planet can be connected in just a few steps of association, ’six-degrees of separation’ was supposedly an urban myth. Through this documentary we discover it’s at the heart of a major scientific breakthrough.

This activity is part of NOW. March 2010, NOW 2010

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