James Burke主持制作的Connections系列科学历史系列片在1979年播出时，获得了当时历史上最高的纪录片收视率。此后在90年代和近年又制作了Connections 2和3，同样得到观众和评论界的好评。Connections系列采用侦探小说的手法，以人们日常生活司空见惯的科学、技术现象和产品为对象，追根溯源顺藤摸瓜，将人类科学技术的发展历史以极富趣味性的方式展现在观众面前，同时激发观众对当代科学技术背后的一切进行思索，在思想性、知识性和娱乐性方面都是科普领域不可多得的精品杰作。

Determined to understand the repeating patterns he was finding in nature, French mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot used an early form of computer imagery to produce his own versions, coining the recurring shapes fractals. This installment of the PBS series "Nova" examines the rules of these self-similar patterns and explores the ways these fascinating geometric configurations can be applied in the fields of science, medicine and the arts.