Articles

Maths in a minute: EntropyIs it about energy? Is it about disorder? Or is it about information? It's all three!

Maths in a minute: "R nought" and herd immunityWhat is herd immunity and what does it have to do with a number called R₀?

A call to action on COVID-19An urgent call has gone out to the scientific modelling community to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Two Cambridge mathematicians are helping to lead the charge.

Maths in a minute: Voronoi diagramsWe look at a crafty mathematical device which, among other things, has helped people understand what causes cholera.

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.

Maths in a minute: Social distancing How should people arrange themselves for maximal socialising at a safe distance?

Myths of maths: The Monty Hall problemThis puzzle is famous because the accepted answer is counter-intuitive. But is it always correct?

Myths of maths: The four colour theoremIt's one of mathematics' most famous results: every "map" can be coloured using at most four colours. What it doesn't usually apply to, however, are real maps.

Myths of maths: The golden ratioThe golden ratio has many amazing properties. But is it really a secret of nature and the epitome of beauty?

Maths in a minute: The information paradoxExplore a mystery that intrigued Stephen Hawking until the end of his life.

Maths in a minute: Hawking radiationNothing, not even light, can escape from a black hole. Or can it? Find out about one of Stephen Hawking's most radical results.

Football sweepstakes: Levelling the playing fieldWith just a few months to go until the UEFA European Cup, here's how you can make your office sweepstake a lot fairer and more exciting.