Beyond Euclid - #105
Welcome to Beyond Euclid #105, the newsletter for the best mathematics and science stuff of the week. I am Ali, and I curate cool math and science stuff every week to help you have a better week.
📰 It's a new week! I couldn't get around to posting the new issue of Beyond Euclid as planned on Monday. I've been hard at work on an article about the education system, and you can read it now! Titled "Overhauling the System: Why Math Teaching Needs a New Direction," this piece follows through with my aim to initiate conversations about education. It's a 30-minute read, but I believe it's worth the time. Anyway, Beyond Euclid #105 is finally here, and it is filled with exciting scientific developments to keep your brain busy.
News
• NASA has launched its first-ever on-demand streaming service and app upgrade, opening up the universe of space to viewers on Earth like never before. With a huge range of original content, this platform is the perfect place to access the latest news, live launch coverage, and exciting kids' programming, all delivered in both English and Spanish.
• Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous artist and mathematician, had a unique approach to capturing his ideas. He always carried a small notebook with him, ready to jot down anything that caught his attention or sketch it furiously. Da Vinci believed it was essential to constantly observe, note, and consider the world around him. I found NPR's translation of one of his notebooks from 1490, revealing a fascinating to-do list of tasks and projects Leonardo had planned for the early 1490s.
• The world is facing numerous climate and nature issues, and it is imperative that we take action to address these problems. Open Planet is doing its part in promoting awareness by providing a free library of 4,500 videos documenting these issues. The digital library was created through the collaboration of the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University and Studio Silverback. It offers an extensive collection of videos that showcase environmental concerns from different parts of the world, such as Bird Island off the coast of South Georgia and the Jamari River in Brazil. What's even better is that the library is constantly growing, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to learn more about our planet's problems.
• For years, scientists have been puzzled by the high mortality rate of spawning coho salmon in West Coast streams during rainstorms. A groundbreaking study in 2020 finally revealed the cause of this tragedy. A chemical known as 6PPD used to prevent tire cracking and degradation, emerged as the culprit. Furthermore, alarming traces of 6PPD-q have been found in the urine of children, adults, and pregnant women in South China. The full impact of this contamination on human health remains unknown.
Experts estimate that a staggering 78 percent of ocean microplastics are actually synthetic tire rubber. With approximately 2 billion tires sold globally each year - enough to reach the moon if stacked on their sides - and projections indicating a market size of 3.4 billion by 2030, the urgency to address this issue cannot be overstated.
• When it comes to noise-canceling headphones, we all know how helpful it can be to quiet the world around us. But what if we could do more than just block out sound? A team at the University of Washington has developed a new type of headphone technology that allows the wearer to pick and choose which sounds they hear. Want to block out the sound of traffic while working inside but still hear birds chirping? No problem. With the team's "semantic hearing" system, headphones stream audio to a connected smartphone, which cancels all unwanted noises while letting through the sounds you want to hear. From sirens to speech to baby cries, the possibilities are endless.
• A tragic incident in South Korea has left everyone in shock and disbelief after a man was reportedly crushed to death by a robot. According to reports, the robot failed to differentiate the man from the boxes of food it was handling, resulting in a fatal accident. The victim, an employee of a robotics company, was inspecting the robot at the time of the incident. The robotic arm, mistaking the man for a box of vegetables, gripped him and pushed him against the conveyor belt, crushing his face and chest.
Mathe’matics
• Becoming a New York Times bestselling author is the holy grail of the publishing world. It's a sign of commercial success, a golden ticket to future book deals and speaking engagements, and a title that will remain with you for the rest of your career. However, getting on that list is no easy feat. The numbers are quite staggering. With over 3 million books published yearly, the chance of landing a coveted spot on the NYT bestsellers list is a mere 0.00208%.
• For 90 years, mathematicians have grappled with the infamous Ramsey problem, a puzzle that seems simple at first glance but has confounded even the brightest minds. But finally, a group of researchers from the University of California San Diego solved the problem. Named after the mathematician Frank Ramsey, the problem is all about finding order amidst chaos. Essentially, the theorem posits that within a large enough graph—comprising a collection of points and lines—you can always find sets of points that either have all possible lines between them (known as cliques) or no lines at all.
• Mathematical physicist and philosopher of science Roger Penrose's journal is so beautiful.
• Here is something extremely interesting. You can use Fibonacci numbers to convert from miles to kilometers.
• The first ever picture of the Mandelbrot set, by Robert W. Brooks and Peter Matelski in 1978.
If you like this, you should get Bill Travis’ Mandelbrot set poster.
Books
• Roger Penrose's book, "The Road to Reality," is an exceptional guide to understanding the laws of the universe. This captivating book delves deep into the intricacies of physics and mathematics, offering readers a comprehensive insight into the fabric of our reality. Even more remarkable are the stunning illustrations that accompany the text, making complex concepts more accessible and engaging. Penrose strikes a perfect balance between scientific rigor and accessibility, making "The Road to Reality" a fascinating read for both scholars and laypeople alike. In this book, Penrose invites us on an incredible journey of discovery, revealing the hidden beauty and poetry of the laws that govern our existence.
Gadgets
• I found the most interesting pillow in the world: POD - Travel Pillow. It's designed for those enduring long journeys or tedious lectures. Its unique design resembles that of an astronaut helmet, making it not only comfortable but also funny. However, it costs $150.
• Population.io is a fascinating tool that provides a unique perspective on the world's population. By simply inputting your date of birth, country of birth, and gender, the website shows you some intriguing numbers that will surely spark your curiosity. In just a matter of seconds, you can discover how many people were alive at the time of your birth, how many people share your birthday, and what percentage of the world population you make up.
Watch Everything Below
• Astrophotographer Jason Kurth's love for the stars has led him to capture some truly amazing images. Last month, armed with over 200 pounds of gear, including his patented solar telescope, Kurth traveled to southern Utah to witness this astronomical event firsthand. The result is nothing short of spectacular. What's even more awe-inspiring is the sheer amount of work that went into creating this breathtaking time-lapse video, which includes almost 2,000 meticulously colorized and compiled images.
• I would have to agree that Kurzgesagt is probably the best YouTube channel out there, and it happens to be my favorite! In their latest video, "4.5 Billion Years in 1 Hour," they have compressed the entire life cycle of Earth into a stunning animated movie. It's educational and entertaining, as every second shows a million years of evolution. The creators of this masterpiece have also incorporated a musical train ride that immerses you in the long passage of time. This video is the perfect companion whether you're having a party, studying, or on the go.
• Get ready to be wowed by one of the coolest DIY projects on the internet. YouTuber Penguin DIY has made a Bluetooth speaker tiny enough to fit inside a walnut! Yes, you read that right. The speaker has been meticulously constructed to show off various features, including a USB-C port and status LEDs. While the sound quality might not be the greatest, the making process is simply mind-blowing.
This Week I Learned That
• History was made on January 1, 1914, as the world's first scheduled passenger airline service took off from St. Petersburg, FL—the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line. The pilot was Tony Jannus, a highly experienced test pilot and barnstormer. Abram C. Pheil, a former mayor of St. Petersburg, joined him on board as the first paying passenger. The flight was just a quick hop across the bay to Tampa, taking only 23 minutes.
• The International Space Station travels at a mind-boggling speed of five miles per second, orbiting our beautiful planet every 90 minutes. Every 24 hours, the crew witnesses 16 breathtaking sunrises and sunsets as they zoom around the Earth.
Hi Ali, Do you have a link to "Overhauling the System: Why Math Teaching Needs a New Direction"? Thanks!