Beyond Euclid #180

Welcome to Beyond Euclid #180, 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.

🥬 This world is a strange place. It feels like there’s a trick behind everything.

You walk into a supermarket — lettuce is right up front. Why? Because if you throw some greens into your cart, your conscience feels clean. And then? “Maybe a bit of ice cream won’t hurt,” says that quiet voice in your head. That’s exactly what the store wants. Manipulation. Broccoli first, chocolate later — all by design. They win. We pay.

This week, I learned about one of those subtle but brilliant little scams.
And I kept wondering: how much more money do you need before you stop?
Can we just breathe? Think? Laugh? Try to understand? Anyway...

Here are the best things I found for you this week. If you’d like to support this work, a paid subscription would mean the world. But even if you don’t — just know this: Nobody here is trying to trick you.