Lewis Dartnell turns the universe into a matrix to model traffic, forest fires and sprawling cities.

Generalists can thrive in a world of specialists

Why traffic jams occur for seemingly no reason

Changing your facial appearance with maths

Jet engines, aircraft carriers and telecommunications networks — these are just some of the things that Nira Chamberlain has modelled. And while he's figuring out defence logistics, he's also pursuing a pure mathematical interest in games. Find out what mathematical modelling can do and why it can also make you slim and fluent in French.

Fractal Modelling of Pollock paintings called into question

Ground breaking work in uncovering optimal funding mechanisms in financial markets

Expedition sets out to determine the North Pole's future

Survival modelling of albums in the Top 100 casts light on the impact of file sharing

Penguin eggs are not something you'd normally associate with maths, but they are right there on the archives of the Smith Institute, an organisation helping businesses use maths to solve their problems. Claudia Centazzo tells us about her role at the institute, selling maths to unsuspecting business people.

Why do the rich and popular get richer and more popular?

If you've ever watched a flock of birds flying at dusk, or a school of fish reacting to a predator, you'll have been amazed by their perfectly choreographed moves. Yet, complex as this behaviour may seem, it's not all that hard to model it on a computer. Lewis Dartnell presents a hands-on guide for creating your own simulations — no previous experience necessary.