Beyond Euclid - #145
Welcome to Beyond Euclid #145, 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.
📰 Greetings once more! Welcome to this enchanting edition of Beyond Euclid! As another week unfolds, I've curated for you the good internet. Remember, if this whimsical journey resonates with you, your support is invaluable and truly appreciated! You can subscribe Beyond Euclid, using the box below.
• Understanding Euclid: A Simplified Approach to Mathematical Thinking. Before Jesus, geometry was more important than numbers. For instance, when the founder of the first institution of higher education in the Western world, Plato, came back to Athens, he decided to found the “Academy,” which would be the intellectual center of the world. For that purpose, instead of taking a nonrefundable application fee, he engraved “ΑΓΕΩΜΕΤΡΗΤΟΣ ΜΗΔΕΙΣ ΕΙΣΙΤΩ” (Translated from Greek as “Let no man ignorant of geometry enter.”) at the door of his academy to eliminate those who were opposed. (You can read the rest of my Medium post here.)
• In an inspiring act of generosity, NBA legend Charles Barkley has donated $1 million to St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans. This remarkable gesture came after two students from the academy, Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson, made headlines with their groundbreaking mathematical discovery—a new proof for solving the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean Theorem.
• Paul Erdős was a Hungarian mathematician known for writing over 500 academic papers and having a wide circle of collaborators. His eccentric lifestyle caught the FBI's attention, although they found no evidence of wrongdoing in his actions or relationships. Erdős was questioned because he refused to take a loyalty oath and traveled with a valid non-diplomatic Hungarian passport, but these concerns were eventually dismissed. The FBI maintained their surveillance, but nothing suspicious was uncovered.
• We know Kurt Gödel for his groundbreaking contributions in logic and mathematics, particularly his incompleteness theorems. His statement below suggests that the human mind possesses an inherent ability to understand and grasp mathematical truths beyond formal systems and mechanical computations, thereby hinting at the possibility that human cognition transcends mere algorithmic processing.
• Thomas Trum is a well-known artist focused on making painting more efficient. In his recent project, called The Art of Dreams, he displayed his bright geometric designs on boat sails, a pool, and several big canvases.
• The beautiful geometric artwork was created using only straight lines, which is quite surprising. It's strange how all these curved shapes can be formed just by using straight lines.
• The Space Vehicle Mockup Facility is a large open space area located inside Building 9 of Johnson Space Center in Houston. It consists of a 200-meter long room that houses several Space Shuttle mockups and mockups of every major pressurized module on the International Space Station.
• Turkish beekeeper Ibrahim Sedef found his honey hives constantly being raided by bears. He tried various methods to protect the honey but eventually turned the bears into taste testers. After setting up an experiment with different types of honey, it was discovered that the bears have a preference for Azner honey, the most expensive in the world. The beekeeper now sees the bears as connoisseurs and has forgiven their past thefts.
• Here is a nice video to explore the fascinating world of deep-sea animals. It was filmed by remotely operated vehicles, and these mesmerizing creatures are captured in the mysterious depths of Monterey Bay and beyond. All of them are extraordinary animals.
• The Spanish company Arbore is taking inspiration from M.C. Escher's tessellated lizards for their floor designs. These intricate and repeating patterns create an aesthetically pleasing and harmonious appearance, making the floors look impeccable.
• A study by The Pudding revealed that women's pockets are often about half the size of men's. Only 40% of women's front pockets can accommodate popular smartphones and wallets designed for them. In 1954, Christian Dior stated that men's pockets serve a functional purpose while women's are mainly decorative.
• Dawid Godziek took on an exciting challenge by riding a mountain bike on a moving train. Both the train and the bike moved in opposite directions but at the same speed, creating a mind-bending view. This activity also illustrated Newton's laws of motion and frames of reference.
• Scientists have found that manganese nodules on the ocean floor might work like batteries, creating oxygen through a process similar to electrolysis. Deep-sea ecologist Andrew Sweetman, who studies the seafloor, was initially doubtful about these findings. However, after running several tests and discussing with chemist Franz Geiger, Sweetman and his team now think these nodules can generate up to 0.95 volts, nearly reaching the 1.23 volts necessary for seawater electrolysis.
• Animated Knots is a straightforward website dedicated to teaching users how to tie various knots. This resource breaks down the complex task of knot tying into simple, easy-to-follow steps. It's a prime example of good internet.
• Joerg Daiber uses aerial timelapse and tilt-shift photography to capture amazing views of the Bavarian Alps. These techniques make the large landscapes look small, giving the images a fun and unique feel.
• This week I learned that only one plane was allowed to fly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Snake handler Lawrence Van Sertima was bitten by a deadly Taipan snake during this time. He needed monovalent antivenin, which only existed in New York and San Diego.A flight was granted permission to travel from San Diego to Miami, escorted by fighter jets.The antivenin was administered within 45 minutes of landing and saved Van Sertima's life.
• Fifty years ago, astronaut Jack Swigert from the Apollo 13 mission realized he had forgotten to do his taxes. This anniversary is now celebrated worldwide. About a day into the mission, Swigert humorously asked Mission Control if they had filed their taxes. Mission Control reassured him by arranging for Swigert to file for an extension without any penalties.
the knots site is an excellent find, i definitely enjoyed reading the newsletter
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Current paper
Synthetic Twenty-Six-Dimensions of a Complex Hyperspherical Geometry Describes Orientation and Chirality of Objects.
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vandyke101@geometricunity.blog
Sent From, James R Van Dyke