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navier-stokes equations

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Births and deaths in fluid chaos

Describing the motion of fluids is a huge and unsolved mathematical problem. There are equations that seem to describe it well, but their complete solution is way beyond reach. But could there be a simpler method? The physicist Jerry Gollub tells Plus about a new discovery which combines experiment with sophisticated maths.

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Universal pictures

Peter Markowich is a mathematician who likes to take pictures. At first his two interests seemed completely separate to him, but then he realised that behind every picture there is a mathematical story to tell. Plus went to see him to find out more, and ended up with a pictorial introduction to partial differential equations.
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Maths on a plane

Phil Trinh discovers how maths helps solve the mysteries of flight and love.
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Eye on the ball

Goal keepers defend against the maths of the new World Cup ball
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And now, the weather...

Umbrella or no umbrella? New advances in weather forecasting will help us dodge hurricanes and protect against floods.
News story

Ripped off at the beach

For the first time, scientists solve the equations to understand how flash rips are formed.
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101 uses of a quadratic equation: Part II

In issue 29 of Plus, we heard how a simple mathematical equation became the subject of a debate in the UK parliament. Chris Budd and Chris Sangwin continue the story of the mighty quadratic equation.

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Andrew Wiles

How maths can make you rich and famous: Part II

One million dollars is waiting to be won by anyone who can solve one of the grand mathematical challenges of the 21st century. In the second of two articles, Chris Budd looks at the well-posedness of the Navier-Stokes equations.
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Career interview - Meteorologist

Read about what it is like to work at the Meteorological Office in this interview with Helen Hewson. There's also a contact point for careers information.
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Understanding turbulence

Have you ever been in an aeroplane on a smooth flight when suddenly the plane bumps up and down for a short time as it goes through turbulent air? The study of turbulence is used to understand a range of phenomena from the simple squirting of a jet of water to the activity of the sun.