Column

  1. Math

    Strange Orbits

    Like toy cars chasing each other on a looped racetrack, three stars can, in principle, trace out a figure-eight orbit in space. This newly discovered, mathematically surprising pattern of motion arises from the force of gravity acting on three bodies of equal mass. Their movements are timed so that each body in turn passes between […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Math

    Strange Orbits

    Like toy cars chasing each other on a looped racetrack, three stars can, in principle, trace out a figure-eight orbit in space. This newly discovered, mathematically surprising pattern of motion arises from the force of gravity acting on three bodies of equal mass. Their movements are timed so that each body in turn passes between […]

    By Ivars Peterson
  3. Math

    Prized Geometric Logic

    Computer programs can handle all sorts of data, from sums of money in bank accounts to sensor readings from scientific instruments.