Beyond Euclid - #131
Welcome to Beyond Euclid #131, 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.
📰 The internet is, without a doubt, an incredibly strange place. While it's true that 78 percent of it seems to be rubbish, there are still gems of high-quality content to be found. Take, for instance, the fact that this is the 131st edition of my weekly newsletter. Out of curiosity, I looked up what’s so special about the number 131 and stumbled upon a Wikipedia page titled "List of highways numbered 131." It’s astonishing that someone or perhaps a group of people meticulously organized this information, even though it may seem utterly pointless. Yet, I believe there's value in it. After all, not everything that is beautiful has to serve a purpose.
For this week, I recommend an extremely beautiful song "Do You Want to Go to Space Young Men by Skywatchers.”
For those who find value in our explorations and wish to support this venture, becoming a paid subscriber would be immensely appreciated. Your support is the backbone of our journey.
• Here is a nice math question! As a math teacher, I really liked it!
A colony of n bacteria is invaded by a single virus. During the first minute it kills one bacterium and then divides into two new viruses; at the same time each of the remaining bacteria also divides into two. During the next minute each of the two newly born viruses kills a bacterium and then both viruses and all the remaining bacteria divide again, and so on. Will this colony live infinitely long or will it eventually perish?
• There are so many pretty interesting equations in mathematics, but to be honest, I would never expect to see something like this.
• I was very surprised when I learned that Plato's teacher was Socrates, and his best student was Aristotle. But every time I read Plato’s ideas, I better understand why Plato is considered the founder of Western philosophy.
• Beautiful geometry by Simon C Page. All of them deserve to be on my working place.
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• Pascal’s theorem. No matter how you choose the red points, the three blue point will lie on a straight line.
• Doughnuts and the Universe: A Sweet Connection. Imagine if traveling through the universe was like walking around a giant doughnut. You'd eventually circle back to where you started! Scientists call this "complex topology," and it could mean our universe is shaped in a way that makes such a journey possible. For a long time, researchers only looked at simple shapes for the universe and found no signs of anything more intricate. But here's the exciting part: there are 17 complex shapes, or topologies, still on the table.
Future studies of ancient cosmic light and extensive sky surveys might uncover clues about these complex topologies. However, this quest isn't easy. It will likely involve the heavy lifting of advanced computer algorithms and even machine learning. If scientists do find proof of these intricate shapes, it could help us understand why the universe is uneven in some places.
• Mark Feldstein Singing Bird Clock. I don't know why, but I really loved this singing bird clock. It's a charming timepiece that brings the melodies of birds right into your home. It's also a marvel of engineering. A photo-sensitive cell ingeniously lowers the volume of the bird songs as the light level drops, ensuring that the soothing sounds are silenced when the clock sits in darkness.
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• The Art and Science of Ernst Haeckel by TASCHEN. Biologist Ernst Haeckel found beauty in the most unlikely of creatures. This book is a treasure and has so many astonishing drawings of Haeckel. The book proves that art and science are inseparable.
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• 100,000 Stars. "100,000 Stars" is an incredible interactive visualization designed just for the Google Chrome web browser. This stunning tool offers a breathtaking view of the cosmos, highlighting the locations of an impressive 119,617 nearby stars. The data used in this visualization is meticulously gathered from various sources, including the significant 1989 Hipparcos mission, ensuring a rich and accurate exploration.
• NASA scientists with their board of calculations, 1957.
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• The Art of Buzz Pollination: A Bee's Masterclass. Plant enthusiasts and garden aficionados, have we got a treat for you! Here's an enlightening video that demonstrates the fascinating process of how to pollinate tomato plants. This method, known as buzz pollination, is a remarkable technique primarily employed by our buzzing friends—the bees.
Buzz pollination is not just a spectacle of nature; it's an essential process for the fertilization of over 20,000 plant species, including household favorites like tomatoes, eggplants, and blueberries. The magic happens when bees vibrate their wings at a high frequency, causing the anthers (the pollen-producing part of a flower) to release pollen. The pollen then lands on the stigma, fertilizing the flower in an efficient and effective manner.
• The Ageless Beauty of Cycling: A Key to Longevity. Cycling is not just a mode of transportation or a weekend pastime; it's a gateway to a healthier, pain-free life. Imagine gliding through the years with strong, agile knees and minimal arthritis—sounds divine, right? According to a recent eye-opening study, regular cycling can turn this dream into reality. The study encompassed participants aged from their mid-40s to 80 years old, all facing higher risks of knee arthritis. Astonishingly, those who cycled regularly were less likely to develop osteoarthritis and knee pain by the age of 65.
Why is cycling so effective? It's a low-impact activity that strengthens the muscles around the knee and promotes the movement of synovial fluid within the joints. Unlike high-impact exercises that often lead to joint injuries, cycling offers a safer and more sustainable way to maintain joint health. Beyond just alleviating knee pain, research shows that individuals who cycle for at least one hour per week are 22% less likely to die prematurely.
•The Internet's Zombie Era: Broken Links and Lost Information Have you ever clicked on a link only to find it leads to a dead-end? You're not alone. A staggering 38% of links from 2013 are now broken, leaving us with a growing problem in this digital age. Dead links don't just cause frustration; they also pose significant risks for misinformation. These empty links can be hijacked and used to spread false information.
Another study highlighted a troubling trend: many essential links become inaccessible over time, stripping away valuable context and proof. It examined over 550,000 articles from The New York Times and found that 72% of deep links vanished as time went by. When Twitter banned Donald Trump, for example, every embedded tweet in articles became a broken link, showcasing link rot in action.
• The Shift in News Participation: A Global Overview. Have you noticed fewer people engaging with news since 2015? You're not imagining things. This drop in participation is happening all over the world, spanning 46 countries and affecting various forms of interaction, like sharing and commenting on social media. Surprisingly, the only type of engagement that's seen a boost is sharing news via private messaging apps.
Specifically, sharing news on social media has plummeted by 29%, while commenting on news articles has decreased by 26%. Additionally, there's been a 24% drop in people discussing the news face-to-face. In general, engagement has decreased by 12% from 2015 to 2022. Those who trust the news less, don't have a bachelor's degree, and women have shown the steepest declines in participation.
• Social Media and Youth: A Concerning Link to Tobacco Use. This week I learned that frequent social media use can increase the risk of young people trying tobacco products. Research has shown that youth who scroll through social media daily are 67 percent more likely to start smoking after just one year. It's alarming but true. Social media platforms are a playground for tobacco companies looking to target and market their products to young people.
This study raises serious concerns about how easily kids are exposed to harmful products online. The findings highlight the urgent need for regulatory measures to limit tobacco advertising on social media. Educating youth about the risks of tobacco use is more important than ever.
Salt and Stomach Cancer: What You Need to Know. Adding extra salt to your food might make it tastier, but it could also be adding to your health risks. A study by MedUni Vienna found that people who frequently sprinkle salt on their meals are 40% more likely to develop stomach cancer. This research looked at data from over 470,000 adults and discovered a strong connection between high salt intake and this type of cancer.
This risk remains significant even when considering different factors like age, income, and lifestyle choices. Worryingly, stomach cancer is becoming more common among younger people. Other factors that increase the risk include smoking, drinking alcohol, infection with Helicobacter pylori, and obesity.
Meet The Guardian Toad: A Game-Changer in Fighting Dengue. Say hello to The Guardian Toad, an inventive solution designed to curtail the spread of dengue fever by targeting mosquitoes. This ingenious development comes at a crucial time for Peru, a country grappling with a dengue crisis exacerbated by the fact that 80% of its population lacks access to clean water. Mosquitoes exploit the stagnant water in uncovered plastic containers to breed, worsening the situation.
The Guardian Toad constantly keeps water in motion, effectively preventing mosquitoes from laying their eggs. Remarkably, it operates autonomously without the need for batteries or electricity, making it ideal for regions devoid of these services. Developed with the expertise of professionals from top universities, The Guardian Toad boasts an impressive 92% effectiveness rate against the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
Hello, which app do you use to make Abakcus posters? They look really nice.