mathematics in the media
A new series of More or Less, BBC Radio 4's series devoted to all things numerical, starts on November 12th. Presenter Andrew Dilnot tells Plus about the motivation behind the programme.
The work of Donald Coxeter, who died on 31 March 2003, will continue to inspire both mathematicians and artists.
Can Dan Goldston and Cem Yalcin Yildrim repair the hole in their proof to make the biggest breakthrough in prime number theory for 80 years?
If you had a crystal ball that allowed you to see your future, what would you arrange differently about your finances? Plus talks to the Government Actuary, Chris Daykin about the pensions crisis, and how actuaries use statistical and modelling techniques to plan for all our futures.
As the largest experiment ever conducted on GM crops ends, environmentalists are concerned that the maths might not add up.
In this issue we illuminate logic, find out why everything's relative, take a journey on the interplanetary superhighway, and maybe even encounter extraterrestrial life.
What is maths? Is it an art form with every idea a work of perfect beauty? Is it a quest for truth that may one day deliver a Theory of Everything? Or is it a tool, essential in anything from fighting crime to calculating airline ticket prices? In this issue we show you that it's all of these, and that it can even produce its own media superstars.
The image on the left shows artist Carla Farsi's painting The birth of Hiroshima.
One hundred years ago, in 1905, Albert Einstein changed physics forever with his special theory of relativity. Since then his name — and hair do — have become synonymous with genius. John D Barrow looks at Einstein as a media star.
Plus magazine is celebrating its 10th birthday. To mark the occasion, the founding editors of Plus look back on the beginnings, see what has changed in maths and public understanding of maths and pick out some of the articles they liked best.
Plus celebrates its tenth birthday this year. Former editor and present executive editor of Plus, Robert Hunt, explores how maths popularisation in general, and Plus in particular, have changed over the last ten years.
What's the risk of passive smoking? Or climate change? How big is the terrorist threat? And should we trust league tables? These issues concern all of us, but it's not always easy to make sense of the barrage of media information. David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the Public Understanding of Risk, gives Plus his take on uncertainty.
This is the biggest ever issue of Plus. We proudly present the winners of the Plus new writers award who explore, amongst other things, the mysteries of infinity, flight, love and Google. We also investigate the maths of tomography, catch some primes, and have a look at maths in the movies. Plus there's a choice of reviews and podcasts, as well as all the regular features of Plus.
What Dickens thought about statistics
Former Plus editor Helen Joyce explains how Plus made it big as a part of our series to celebrate Plus's tenth anniversary.
How to manipulate risk statistics
How rappers interact
The next total eclipse of the Sun will be in March 2006
If you have ever felt the need for speed, then this is the issue for you! Andy Green tells us how maths is going to help him break his own land speed record by driving a supersonic Bloodhound at 1,000mph. But if you prefer a more sedate pace, then why not try your hand at juggling, search for a Gömböc on the seashore, contemplate your bathroom floor or just gaze out at the horizon. And find out how probability can give you the winning edge, whether you are playing the markets, or the beautiful game.
How to interact with your music collection
Is geometry hard-wired into our brain?
A statistical study into Iraq war deaths sparks controversy
Plus celebrates its 10th birthday
NHS budgets, third world debt, predictions of global warming, inflation, Iraqi war dead, the decline of fish stocks or hedgehogs, the threat of cancer — there's hardly a subject people care about that comes without measurements, forecasts, rankings, statistics, targets, numbers of every variety. Do they illuminate or mislead? Introducing their new book, Michael Blastland and Andrew Dilnot take a look at numbers in the media and show that a little maths goes a long way in unravelling dodgy media claims.
The Plus career posters achieve TV fame
Plus celebrates its 10th birthday!
How many ancient forests are in your tank?
A new attempt to solve Hilbert's 16th problem is causing controversy.
More honours for the director of the Millennium Mathematics Project
Is maths succeeding in putting astronomical threats in perspective?
The Further Mathematics Network and Rolls Royce combine for national mathematics poster competition
In the movies mathematicians are mostly mad. Since here at Plus we firmly believe in our sanity, we're puzzled as to why. So we charged Charlotte Mulcare with the unenviable task of sifting through five well-known maths movies and speculate towards an answer.
Visit the front-line of science at the BA Festival of Science and hear about the million dollar world of mathematical proof
Is complex statistical evidence being presented properly in court?
Statisticians welcome a call to make official statistics independent - but can it really be done in one hour?
The beautiful "Maths goes Underground" posters are back by popular demand.
Become a Plus author by joining our competition
Become a Plus author and win an iPod by joining our writing competition
BBC documentary explores the International Mathematics Olympiad
This issue is all about movement and beauty. There's a recipe for the perfect free kick, instructions on how to trick gravity, an exploration of the amazingly intricate Mandelbrot set and its pretty cousins, the Julia sets, and a mathematical look at the harmonies of music. And if you're interested in the movements in your bank account, there's an article investigating what makes markets stable.
"Lies, damned lies, and statistics..." Ben Parker tells us how to tell good statistics from bad, and make sure your cat is well-fed.
In the first of our tenth birthday year issues, Plus is celebrating the very best that maths has to offer. If you've ever wanted to fly with the birds and swim with the fishes, get the inside knowledge on great London landmarks or just enjoy going to the movies, then this is the issue for you. And we also say happy birthday to the great mathematician Leonard Euler.
Well educated aliens
How to manipulate risk statistics
Become a Plus author and win an iPod by joining our writing competition
The UK Statistics Authority fulfills its duty to keep the government honest
Innumeracy costs UK taxpayers up to £2.4 billion a year.
