Science Channel Uncovers the True Power of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon Game
SCI Q Sundays Presents CONNECTED: THE POWER OF SIX DEGREES Sunday, February 15 at 9 PM (ET/PT)
January 26, 2009
(Silver Spring, MD) – Rodney Dangerfield was in “Caddyshack” with Bill Murray, and Bill Murray was in “She’s Having a Baby” with… Kevin Bacon! When a college student started the popular trivia game, “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,” he never knew he would be opening the floodgates for mathematical equations and scientific breakthroughs to come pouring out. Without even realizing it, the six degrees game unleashed the powerful idea of small networks, showing that actors are connected by only a few degrees.
Now, Science Channel presents the thought-provoking special, CONNECTED: THE POWER OF SIX DEGREES, where researchers attempt to piece together the entire world, figuring out if – and how – everyone and everything on the planet are interconnected. Scientists are investigating if the power of six degrees can defeat terrorists and even predict pandemics or perhaps diseases like cancer. CONNECTED: THE POWER OF SIX DEGREES premieres Sunday, February 15, 2009, at 9 PM (ET/PT), as part of Science Channel’s “SCI Q Sundays.”
The hour-long special explores the significance of six degrees by deciphering the idea that within nature there exists a hidden network connecting diseases to other diseases and humans on one side of the globe to humans on another side. As researchers examined the idea, they found that these seemingly random connections or links are held together by “hubs,” or areas of commonality among diseases or people. This discovery suggested that networks do not just grow accidentally, but evolve according to some pattern. Sure enough researchers found networks everywhere – in transportation routes, computer chips, within society and, maybe most importantly, within human cells.
By studying networks, scientists are developing an understanding of how nature functions and how network paths affect one another. The entirely new discipline – called network science – could stop widespread pandemics and end genetic disorders. With the creation of the first road map of the human cell, seeing diseases as a network offers entirely new ways of finding treatments, and shows, for the first time, connections between every known human disease. And just as the Hollywood actors network linked stars through their films, scientists can now see how diseases are linked by the genes they have in common features esteemed mathematicians and scientists leading the charge on this phenomenon. From Hollywood to math equations to a daring new approach to fighting disease, this is a new way of seeing our world. Premiering on “SCI Q Sundays” on Science Channel, this special features the innovative, future-forward science topics from around the globe that this night is dedicated to highlighting. Hosted by renowned theoretical physicist and internationally recognized science television commentator, Michio Kaku, the topics immerse viewers in the ideas, experiments and astounding breakthroughs that make the world of scientific discovery turn.
CONNECTED: THE POWER OF SIX DEGREES is produced for Science Channel by CIS & Associates, Ltd. Aline Jacques is producer for CIS & Associates and Jack Smith is executive producer for Science Channel.
About Science Channel
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Discovery Communications is the world’s number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including How Stuff Works. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit Discovery Communications.