When it comes to describing natural phenomena, mathematics is amazingly — even unreasonably — effective. In this article Mario Livio looks at an example of strings and knots, taking us from the mysteries of physical matter to the most esoteric outpost of pure mathematics, and back again.

If you like mathematics because things are either true or false, then you'll be worried to hear that in some quarters this basic concept is hotly disputed. In this article Phil Wilson looks at constructivist mathematics, which holds that some things are neither true, nor false, nor anything in between.

What Dickens thought about statistics

Human versus machine: who's better at proving theorems?

Game theorists model the evolution of trust and trustworthiness

The Sun is no longer singing solo and is now part of a stellar choir

A look at different voting systems

How long do football managers last?

A multi-disciplinary approach to complexity

The 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded.

Who is to blame for the current financial crisis?

And three cheers for the maths behind its success!