Column

  1. Math

    The Great Tile Debate

    For subway flooring, why switch from hexagonal to square tiles?

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Knots in Proteins

    Knotted proteins are rare but more than just random occurrences.

    By Ivars Peterson
  3. Math

    The Eclipse That Saved Columbus

    An eclipse prediction in a book of astronomical tables helped Columbus out of a jam.

    By Ivars Peterson
  4. Math

    Math Factor Radio

    Listen in on some math radio and browse for science songs.

    By Ivars Peterson
  5. Math

    Euler’s Bridges

    A well-known puzzle about bridges led to a pioneering paper in topology.

    By Ivars Peterson

  6. Touring the Poles

    Hunting for bear leads to uncountable infinities.

    By Ivars Peterson
  7. Math

    Does Defense Win Championships?

    In pro football, a good defense doesn't generally trump a good offense.

    By Ivars Peterson
  8. Math

    Pancake Sorting

    Flipping pancakes to stack them according to size can be a tricky business.

    By Ivars Peterson
  9. Math

    Making Sense of the Web’s Structure

    Pioneering studies of social networks and the Web's structure lead to a prestigious prize.

    By Ivars Peterson
  10. Math

    Puzzling Names in Boxes

    An ingenious search strategy leads to a death-defying feat.

    By Ivars Peterson
  11. Math

    Lake Wobegon Averages

    Computing average class size can give different answers that depend on your point of view.

    By Ivars Peterson
  12. Math

    Math Lit

    Cryptography and other mathematical topics play key roles in several recent novels.

    By Ivars Peterson