Geek Out

Understand Encryption Using… Paint And Clocks?

Getting your head around public key encryption isn’t easy, even if you’re a dab hand at maths. Prime factors? Modular arithmetic? Say what? Instead, here’s a totally straightforward explanation that starts from the basics, using paint mixing as an example.


February 15, 2012
Geek Out

Send This Love Equation To Your Nerdy Valentine

The Batman Equation is great, but Batman is a sociopathic egomaniac. Totally not appropriate for Valentine’s day. Send the Love Equation instead.


February 14, 2012
Science

The Little Equation At The Heart Of The Economic Collapse

When the global financial markets began to collapse in 2007, everybody turned on the banks and bankers — and they haven’t stopped since. But one of the culprits was a humble piece of mathematics: the Black-Scholes equation.


January 25, 2012
Science

The Science Of Cramming

Many of us don’t learn in optimal ways. We know that we forget new material, neglect to review older material, and study in ways that elevate cramming and procrastination to art forms. But there is research about how to be more efficient in these things. For example, dating back to 1885, there is a rich literature that explores how timing our learning of new and old material can affect education.


January 18, 2012
Geek Out

If You Suck At Darts, Here’s Some Maths To Help You Out

If you’re anything like me, you play darts rarely. And when you do, you’re drunk. Ignoring the fact that that’s a dangerous combination, here’s how to try and maximise your chance of winning, ineptitude aside.


December 7, 2011
Geek Out

I Needed This Kids’ Book About Calculus In School

The road to greatness starts at an early age, and a children’s book dedicated to introductory calculus will put your kid on the right path. Has a Nobel Prize winner ever credited Green Eggs and Ham for their success? Exactly.


December 6, 2011
Online

Google’s Nerdiest Move Ever: Now It’s A Graphing Calculator!

If you’re neck-deep in maths work, or just nostalgic for the high school days of your TI-83+, fire up the big G: it’ll now serve you as a graphing calculator. Time to make sine waves!


December 1, 2011
Science

The Maths That Saved Apollo 13

This is the Lunar Module Systems Activation Checklist Book of Apollo 13. The handwritten numbers are part of the calculations made by Commander James Lovell, just two hours after a service module’s oxygen tank explosion left them marooned in space.


November 26, 2011
Science

Teach Your Pretentious Friend How To Swirl Wine Using Science

Everyone has one of those annoying friends who thinks they know everything about wine. But here’s some science you can wheel out next time they come over all condescending.


November 23, 2011
Geek Out

Maths Suckage Doesn’t Care About Your Sex

You know who sucks at maths? Almost everyone, that’s who. Newsflash: the majority of humans do not do maths because they love and excel at it. We mostly dislike it and are bad at it to boot.