queueing theory

Using the trajectory of a billiard ball to assign customers to queues.

Maths in a minute

Want facts and want them fast? Our Maths in a minute series explores key mathematical concepts in just a few words.

Squashing the curve?

A study into Covid-19 suggests that flattening the curve will take longer and harder measures than previously hoped.
The problem with combining R ratios

We explore why you need to be extremely careful when combining the reproduction ratios of a disease in different settings, such as hospitals and the community.
Building meaning: dog or ostrich

How do we build our models of the world? Yoshua Bengio explains how deep learning will help machines act to understand the world in a similar way.
Finding a way out of lockdown

Mathematical models can help the nation return to (some sort of) normality.
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.