Painted with numbers: mathematical patterns in nature Subscribe to the Guardian HERE: bitly.com/UvkFpD Our universe is painted with numbers, says Marcus du Sautoy. Mathematical patterns are a universal feature of the natural world, from the petals of flowers and the seeds in an apple to honeycombs and the ratios of musical harmony. And for the Oxford mathematician, the equations that describe how the universe works are every bit as beautiful as a piece of classical music or an impressionist painting. The film was written, directed and produced by Alom Shaha.