Beyond Euclid - #162
Welcome to Beyond Euclid #161, 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 Wednesday! It's time once again for your weekly dose of Beyond Euclid - the newsletter that brings you the latest and greatest in math and science thought-provoking content. I've spent a lot of hours digging through the vast expanse of the internet to bring you this incredible selection, and I hope you find it as fascinating and captivating as I have. But I also have a request: I ask that you share this newsletter with your loved ones so we can continue to grow our community of curious minds. With your help, we can make Beyond Euclid even bigger and better!
Lastly, if you’ve been enjoying the newsletter and want to support its growth, consider becoming a paid subscriber—it means the world to me.
• Self-locating strings within 𝜋. The string n is at position n in the decimal digits of 𝜋, where 1 is the first digit. For instance, the digits 16470 appear in position 16,470. According to The Pi-Search Page, The numbers 1, 16470, 44899, 79873884, 711939213 are self-locating.
• The radius of a circle inscribed in a 3-4-5 triangle is 1. The proof is also extremely mind blowing. If I was teaching geometry, I would definitely asked this as a question.
• A Stanford study on software engineering productivity, involving over 50,000 engineers across hundreds of companies, revealed a surprising statistic: approximately 9.5% of software engineers contribute little to no output. These so-called "ghost engineers" often appear to go unnoticed in large teams and, in some cases, may even be juggling multiple jobs simultaneously.
• A recent survey of over 1,000 scientists, including astrobiologists and related experts, explored their views on extraterrestrial life. Results show that 86.6% of astrobiologists and 88.4% of other scientists believe basic extraterrestrial life likely exists. While direct evidence is lacking, many base their views on factors like the abundance of potentially habitable environments in the universe, including within our solar system.
• Eric Temple Bell a mathematician and historian, understood that many breakthroughs in mathematics arose from challenging what was once deemed self-evident. The history of mathematics is filled with seemingly "obvious" ideas, later proven to be incomplete or incorrect upon deeper scrutiny. By cautioning against complacency with the "obvious," Bell highlighted the importance of rigorous proof and critical thought.
• Newton’s college notebook is accessible online. This week, I found Newton’s college notebook online. Cambridge University shared something remarkable—they’ve scanned all 340 pages of Isaac Newton’s college notebook and made it available online! This notebook gives an incredible glimpse into Newton’s early ideas and discoveries, starting from the winter of 1663-1664 and continuing through his college years.
• Isaac Newton's definition of "number" in his Universal Arithmetic (lectures 1673-1683).
• This Mobius Calendar Clock by Zanwen Li made me look.
• Imagine a simple game with intriguing results. Start with an equilateral triangle and choose any random point within it. Next, pick one of the triangle's three vertices at random. Draw a straight line connecting your chosen vertex to the current point, and then select the midpoint of that line as your new point. Repeat this process over and over. Initially, you might expect the points to scatter randomly without forming any clear pattern. However, to your surprise, the repeated iterations reveal something extraordinary—a beautiful and intricate shape known as the Sierpinski fractal emerges from this chaos. It’s a fascinating example of order arising from randomness!
• This Islamic Fibonacci spiral is truly beautiful and made me look. It was designed by Anita Chowdry.
• The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids by Alexandra Lange. This is an absolutely fascinating read! Alexandra Lange takes readers on a captivating exploration of how design influences the lives of children. Lange examines key aspects of childhood, including toys, schools, playgrounds, homes, and cities, and traces the historical evolution of these spaces and objects. Coming to the book primarily as a parent, I found Lange's perspective transformative. It’s incredible to gain a new understanding of how material surroundings impact not only our kids' independence and creativity but also society at large. This book gave me a profound appreciation for the role of design in childhood and beyond, making it an endlessly enjoyable and enlightening read. I highly recommend it to anyone curious about design, childhood, or parenting!
• Neal Agarwal, known for his creative and humorous projects, has taken this idea to the extreme with “The Password Game.” His quirky experiment challenges you to craft a valid password, but every time you succeed, a new rule is added. Before you know it, you're working on a password packed with absurd conditions, symbols, and wingdings that make you laugh and question your life choices.
• The oldest olive tree in the world, located in the small town of Ano Vouves on Crete, Greece, is estimated to be between 2,500 and 4,000 years old. This ancient tree, with its gnarled and twisted hollow trunk, stands as a testament to resilience and history, though its exact age is difficult to determine due to the decay of its heartwood. Protected by the local town and government since 1997, the tree continues to thrive, producing olives and captivating visitors with its monumental presence in the town square.
• If you need some tranquility, here is a beautiful video from Norway’s stunningly beautiful fjords. Take a moment to immerse yourself in the breathtaking views and soothing sounds of nature.
• Photographer Drew Simms captured breathtaking footage of Yellowstone National Park’s frozen bison braving -37°F (-38.3°C) temperatures as they searched for food in the snow. Other wildlife, including mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bobcats, and coyotes, were also seen enduring the harsh winter. Simms spent over a week exploring and documenting the park’s wildlife and geysers, calling it one of his most unforgettable winter camping experiences despite the brutal cold.
• Van Gogh’s Masterpieces are on Digital. You can explore the brilliance of Vincent van Gogh from anywhere! The Van Gogh Museum has digitized 1632 of his artworks, including iconic landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. These pieces reveal Van Gogh’s incredible ability to connect people, objects, and nature with vibrant color and emotion.
The museum’s website also offers essays and virtual tours, making it easier than ever to dive into his world and experience his vision from the comfort of home.
• If Trump’s import tariffs get the green light, get ready to dig deeper into your pockets for gadgets. According to the Consumer Technology Association, prices for laptops, tablets, and other tech could skyrocket faster than your phone’s storage fills up. Worst-case scenario? Laptops could cost 68% more, game consoles 58%, and even your smartphone might get a 40% price bump. The idea is to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but realistically, production might just move to other low-cost countries—China still dominates in making essential parts like batteries. Plus, other nations might slap on their own tariffs in response, making this a global headache. Long story short, tech lovers could be paying way more while overall spending power takes a hit. Fun times, right?
• A study by Portland State University revealed that 99% of seafood samples in Oregon contained anthropogenic particles, including microplastics and fibers from synthetic clothing. Pink shrimp had the highest concentrations, likely due to their diet of zooplankton. These particles, which can disrupt hormones and increase cancer risks, were found in the edible tissues of seafood, indicating that they move beyond the gut. The research highlights concerns for human health and ecosystems, urging measures to limit microplastic and microfiber pollution.
• A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine links synthetic chemicals and plastics to a rise in childhood health issues, including a 35% increase in childhood cancers and more birth defects in boys. Over 20 public health experts call for stricter global rules, suggesting that chemicals should be proven safe before being sold. They also propose a UN-backed treaty, mandatory safety testing, ongoing monitoring, and greater transparency from manufacturers. The researchers warn that without action, the costs—both human and economic—will continue to grow, making the need to protect children’s health urgent.
