I was recently asked about my MSc dissertation (by someone who may choose to ‘out’ themselves here, but as it was a personal email I won’t name them). In my dissertation, for a Masters degree in computing in 2003-4, I developed a system for pre-processing MathML code using PHP to include pseudo-randomised values in the…
Mathematica free on the Raspberry Pi
Wolfram have released a version of Mathematica and the new Wolfram Language to run on the low-cost Raspberry Pi computer, and both are free. I have Mathematica up and running on my Raspberry Pi, having followed the instructions on the Raspberry Pi site; future Raspbian images will ship with the Wolfram Language and Mathematica by…
Interesting Esoterica Summation, volume 8
Mathematicians! Stop what you’re doing! I’ve almost certainly got something more interesting for you here. It’s been a good while since I last updated you on the contents of my Interesting Esoterica collection, and I have a proportionate number of mathematical curiosities to entertain and bewilder you with. In case you’re new to this: every now…
Cushing and CP’s Random Talks, number 1
David and I sat down again and talked about maths a bit more. I’m calling this number 1 because it suits both our counting systems: David can call this the first podcast of a new series, and I can say the one we put out under All Squared was number 0. Everyone wins! Podcast: Play in…
What do these three pictures have in common?
What do these three pictures have in common? The first is the bust of Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen. The bust is now in the Neues Museum in Berlin and is one of the most beautiful works of art. Nefertiti is translated as “a beautiful woman has come”. The word nefer is in this case translated as…
A History of Britain in Numbers
Somehow all three of us missed this before it started: “Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, brings to life the numbers that highlight the patterns and trends that have transformed Britain”. A History of Britain in Numbers is a series of ten 15 minute programmes broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It looks like someone…
Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef book
You might already know about the idea of crocheting hyperbolic surfaces, invented by Daina Taimina in 1997. Well, since then, the idea has been developed considerably, and I don’t think it would be hyperbolic to say people have got a bit carried away. Margaret and Christine Wertheim, who are a science writer and a poet/performer respectively…