Rest in Peace, Alexander Bogomolny @CutTheKnotMath Devastating news. He was of the few saints you meet in life: He gave more, much more than he took. — Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) July 8, 2018 Alexander Bogomolny was a mathematician and educator well known for his website Cut the Knot, which offered interactive mathematical miscellany and…
Are there More or Less stars than grains of beach sand?
This week’s episode of More or Less on the BBC World Service answered a question that involved estimating big numbers: Are there more stars than grains of beach sand? This claim was famously made by Carl Sagan in the seminal programme Cosmos. The cosmos is rich beyond measure. The number of stars in the universe…
The Big Internet Math-Off Round 1 – Jo Morgan v Tony Mann
Here’s the final match in Round 1 of The Big Internet Math-Off. Our last two competitors are Jo Morgan and Tony Mann. Take a look at both pitches, vote for the bit of maths that made you do the loudest “Aha!”, and if you know any more cool facts about either of the topics presented…
Carnival of Mathematics 159
The next issue of the Carnival of Mathematics, rounding up blog posts from the month of June, and compiled by Kartik, is now online at Comfortably Numbered. The Carnival rounds up maths blog posts from all over the internet, including some from our own Aperiodical. See our Carnival of Mathematics page for more information.
The Big Internet Math-Off Round 1 – James Propp v Zoe Griffiths
Here’s the seventh match in Round 1 of The Big Internet Math-Off. Today, we’re pitting James Propp against Zoe Griffiths. Take a look at both pitches, vote for the bit of maths that made you do the loudest “Aha!”, and if you know any more cool facts about either of the topics presented here, please…
The Big Internet Math-Off Round 1 – Matt Parker v Matthew Scroggs
Here’s the sixth match in Round 1 of The Big Internet Math-Off. Today, we’re pitting Matt Parker against Matthew Scroggs. Take a look at both pitches, vote for the bit of maths that made you do the loudest “Aha!”, and if you know any more cool facts about either of the topics presented here, please…
5th July is LGBT STEM Day
Today (5th July) is the first LGBT STEM day, a celebration of LGBTQ+ people working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Organised by charitable trust Pride in STEM and supported by 42 STEM organisations including the RSC, IOP, CERN and ESA, it’s an opportunity to recognise and celebrate our LGBTQ+ colleagues, and to focus on…