Articles

Why quantum mechanics?

Why did physicists at the beginning of the 20th century feel they needed a new — and strange — theory?

Donald Trump, game theorist

Whatever you think of Donald Trump, we bet you didn't think he was good at game theory.

Big Data

Everybody's talking about Big Data. But what exactly do they mean?

Eight great reasons to do maths

In 2012 the UK government launched a list of the Eight Great technologies of the future. Here's what they are and what role maths has to play in them.

Humans, machines, and the future of work

With intelligent machines taking over more and more of our jobs, what does the rise of AI mean for humanity?

How new geometries reshaped our world

The 19th century experienced a geometrical revolution. Find out how the new geometries that were discovered shaped philosophy, science, culture and art.

Who killed Schrödinger's cat?

Here's a quick introduction to the most famous cat in the history of science. We hope it whets your appetite for quantum mechanics!

How Euclid once ruled the world

This article explores how Euclid's ancient geometry interacts with all aspects of human thought and life.

Snakes and adders

How can an electronic device fed on a diet of 0s and 1s perform complex tasks? We explore the workings of computers using an example.

Maths in a minute: Boolean algebra

Meet the algebra at the heart of your computer!

Maths in a minute: Simplifying circuits

Claude Shannon's ingenious insight linking physical circuits with Boolean algebra paved the way for modern computing.

Preserving species in the face of climate change

Can mathematics predict the inevitable consequences of climate change? And more importantly, can it suggest ways to reduce, or even prevent some of these consequences?