NHS budgets, third world debt, predictions of global warming, inflation, Iraqi war dead, the decline of fish stocks or hedgehogs, the threat of cancer — there's hardly a subject people care about that comes without measurements, forecasts, rankings, statistics, targets, numbers of every variety. Do…

With bird flu spreading through cattle herds in the US and infecting humans, the diseases poses a severe threat to wild life, poultry and also people. What can mathematical modelling do to help?

The second part of this article looks at reducing students's contacts and face-to-face teaching.

There are several ways in which it can and studies suggest they could be safe and effective.

We are proud to present the winners of the Plus New Writers Award 2009. The winners were chosen by our three prominent judges for each of the three categories — schools, university and general public. Read the winning entries now!

Cognitive biases shape how we understand. Being aware of them gives us a better chance of avoiding them.