Articles

Taming big data

A new institute on the maths of information has just been launched at the Faculty of Mathematics in Cambridge.

Maths in a minute: The square root of 2 is irrationalHere's one of the most elegant proofs in all of maths. Rejoice in its simplicity!
Maths in a minute: Maths and communication

A quick look at the role of mathematics in communication — from making and breaking codes to making sure messages arrive intact.

The happy ending problem

So easy to describe, yet so hard to prove.

The mathematics of kindnessIf only the fittest survive, how can we explain the evolution of altruism? Mathematics has some answers.
Maths in a minute: False positivesWhy a positive test result doesn't necessarily mean you have the disease.
Not just a matter of time: Measuring complexityAre there problems computers will never be able to solve, no matter how powerful they become?
Not just a matter of time: The halting problem

In the 1930s Alan Turing discovered a computer program that is logically impossible. What other limits are there to computation?

Not just a matter of time: The busy beaver

Journey to the limits of computation with a number that's easy to describe but can't be calculated.

Maths in a minute: How many primes?Here's the ancient proof that there are infinitely many prime numbers.
Maths in a minute: The prosecutor's fallacyWhy a DNA match doesn't necessarily prove your guilt.
Easy as ABC?

Mathematicians are working hard to understand an impenetrable proof of the famous ABC conjecture.