Welcome to Beyond Euclid #135, 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.
📰 Happy Sunday. I would like to thank everyone who shared their good wishes and prayers with us because of the accident we had recently. It really makes you feel good even if it is just a few sentences. Anyway, this week's newsletter is really sweet. I hope you will like it.
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• A Long History of Mathematics: From Antiquity to Contemporary.Imagine mathematics as a grand adventure that began thousands of years ago and continues to this day. I’m not a math historian, and my retelling is more like sharing stories around a campfire than delivering a scholarly lecture. My aim is to weave together bits and pieces I’ve gathered over time into a tapestry that shows how math has evolved. IT IS A 46-MIN READ
Henry Billingsley is the first person to publish an English translation of #Euclid’s Elements. | Image source
• "I believe that scientific knowledge has fractal properties, that no matter how much we learn, whatever is left, however small it may seem, is just as infinitely complex as the whole was to start with. That, I think, is the secret of the Universe." - Isaac Asimov
• Möbius Ship by Tim Hawkinson.Möbius Ship is a remarkable wooden ship sculpture created by California-based artist Tim Hawkinson in 2006 that contorts in an endless loop like a Möbius strip. Hawkinson constructed the 10-foot-wide artwork out of everyday items such as twist ties and packaging materials, and it is currently on exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
• Newton's reflecting telescope. Newton's reflecting telescope was a groundbreaking invention in the field of astronomy. The attached drawing, illustrated by Henry Oldenburg, highlights the enhancements Newton made to this marvellous device. Oldenburg sent this schematic to Isaac Newton in a letter, requesting his review and corrections. This careful step was taken to ensure Newton's priority for the invention before forwarding it to the renowned scientist Christian Huygens.
• The super power of 1,741,725.
• To create a rabbit out of nothing and place it on the table, the magician need not summon up the entire enthalpy, H = U + PV. Some energy, equal to TS, can flow in spontaneously as heat; the magician must provide only the difference, G = H − TS, as work. This is from Daniel Schroeder’s An Introduction to Thermal Physics.
• This parabola was made just using straight lines. So we can conclude that all circles are actually made of straight lines.
• The Bicycle Race by Lyonel Feininger, 1912. Lyonel Feininger is a really good example of an artist who initially pursued a different passion. Like the renowned physicist Max Planck, who once contemplated a music career, Feininger started with aspirations in music. Feininger moved to Germany in 1887 to study music but soon found his calling in painting. Influenced by the Cubist movement and particularly by Robert Delaunay's work, Feininger's artistic journey took a significant turn.
After World War I, Feininger joined the Bauhaus, Germany's forward-thinking design school that aimed to merge art, science, and technology. "The Bicycle Race" exemplifies his work, featuring faceted objects and vivid colors that convey a sense of motion and freshness. This painting invites us into the energy of spring, almost urging us to pedal with enthusiasm.
• Remarkable Healthcare in the Islamic Golden Age. During the Islamic Golden Age, the Abbasid Caliphate introduced extraordinary measures to ensure healthcare was accessible to all. They set up laws that required hospitals to remain open 24 hours a day, ensuring care was always available. Hospitals were forbidden from refusing treatment to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. To support these public institutions, the Abbasids established charitable foundations known as waqfs, which funded various essential services, including hospitals and schools. This period exemplified a profound commitment to public welfare and healthcare equity.
• Childhood play is a key ingredient in developing future skills, career paths, and relationships. Simple toys like the Slinky, yo-yo, and marbles are more than just fun—they help teach basic principles of physics. Through play, children also build crucial soft skills such as creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy. While digital games and virtual play have their place, they may not offer the same developmental benefits as traditional physical games and outdoor activities.
• Johns Hopkins undergraduate students invent a quieter leaf blower with a patent-pending design. The updated design reduces the overall noise level by 40% and eliminates the most obnoxious frequencies. The team spent months analyzing the noises and refining their solution, eventually creating an attachment that dampens sound without sacrificing power. Stanley Black & Decker plans to sell the new leaf blowers within two years.
• Carrots, while a crunchy delight, are not the staple food for rabbits. These vibrant orange vegetables are packed with sugar and are best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than a daily meal. Instead, rabbits' diet should primarily consist of hay or grass, providing essential fiber for their digestive health.
THANK YOU FOR READING BEYOND EUCLID! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!