Welcome to Plus magazine!
The agent perspective
What do we have over machines? A sense of agency
How can maths fight a pandemic?
How do mathematical models of Covid-19 work and should we believe them? We talk to an epidemiologist, who has been working flat out to inform the government, to find out more.
A strange definition of perfect
Perfect numbers have foxed mathematicians for over 2000 years. Here's a quick look at the long struggle to find them.
Less is more: The quest for minimal surfaces
For over 250 years minimal surfaces have been playing hide and seek with mathematicians. But what are they and why are they interesting?
Maths: The next generation
What do young researchers in maths and computer science work on? We find out at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum 2019. From crime scene investigation to theoretical investigations of computer algorithms, the range is wide.
Election special
Was the Brexit result fair? Will the general election be fair? Can any election ever be fair? Find out more about the maths of democracy with these articles.
Our changing picture of gravity
We look back over how our picture of gravity has changed Image courtesy NASA.
The power of ants
Find out how these humble animals have inspired computer algorithms to solve complex real-world problems.
Synchronised swimming
How do green algae manage a perfect breaststroke even though they haven't got a brain? The maths of synchronisation explains and even sheds light on human physiology and evolution.
Our theory of very nearly everything: the particles
What is everything made of?
Maths in a minute: "R nought" and herd immunity
What is herd immunity and what does it have to do with a number called R0?
The maths of COVID-19
Maths plays an essential role in fighting COVID-19, which is why the pandemic has featured a lot on Plus. Here is all our coverage at a glance.
The growth rate of COVID-19
We all now know about R, but sometimes it can be good to consider another number: the growth rate of an epidemic.
Unlocking the workforce
How can we get back to work safely in the face of a lingering pandemic? Mathematicians have issued some guidelines for policy makers and employes.
Understanding information
Information is supremely powerful, yet it can't be described by traditional physics. Constructor theory provides a potential answer.
Synchronised swimming: The podcast
How do green algae manage a perfect breaststroke even though they haven't got a brain? Find out how the maths of synchronisation sheds light, not just on algae, but on human physiology and evolution.
Football: Was points per game fair?
When the Premier League was suspended there was talk of deciding it on results achieved so far, rather than playing remaining matches. Would this have been fair?
Maths in three minutes: Map projections
There are many ways of projecting the round Earth onto a flat map!