Monthly Archives: October 2008
The Chromatic Number of Liechtenstein
Four colors suffice for any planar map: We’ve known that since 1977. If a map is divided into countries or provinces or other regions, and you want to color the map so that no two adjacent regions have the same … Continue reading
Posted in mathematics, problems and puzzles
5 Comments
Net work
I’m afraid. I’m afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. … Continue reading
Posted in uncategorized
3 Comments
The arity of equality
The symbol “=” is the fulcrum of a balance. It declares that the things on either side of it, whatever they may be, are equivalent, identical, alike, indistinguishable, the same. [*] The metaphor of the balance implies that exactly two … Continue reading
Posted in computing
14 Comments
QCD
Lattice QCD is something I’ve been trying to understand for 30 years. My latest attempt is chronicled in the new issue of American Scientist. QCD is quantum chromodynamics, the theory of interactions between quarks and gluons. The lattice version of … Continue reading
Posted in physics
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Survey on computing in the sciences
Do you create software for scientific computing, or use such software in doing research? Then my friend Greg Wilson would like to hear from you. Together with colleagues from the University of Toronto, Simula Research Laboratory and the National Research … Continue reading
Demaine event
“Between The Folds” uncovers the stories of ten fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who abandoned careers and scoffed at hard-earned graduate degrees—all to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paperfolders. Perhaps such a film should be kept from impressionable youth, … Continue reading
Posted in mathematics
2 Comments
Spam by the numbers
Reviewing this month’s batch of incoming junk mail, I stumbled upon the following message: In case that image is too tiny to read, here is the first word in source-code form: 28 47 34 74 33 85 42 16 43 … Continue reading
Posted in modern life, statistics
12 Comments