Mathematics Life

Brian Clegg was always fascinated by Isaac Asimov’s classic Foundation series of books, in which the future is predicted using sophisticated mathematical modeling of human psychology and behavior. Only much later did he realize that Asimov’s "psychohistory" had a real-world equivalent: game theory. Originating in the study of probabilistic gambling games that depend on a random source—the throw of a dice or the toss of a coin—game theory soon came to be applied to human interactions: essentially, what was the best strategy to win whatever you were doing?

“There are at least two kinds of games,” states James P. Carse as he begins this extraordinary book. “One could be called finite; the other infinite. A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.” Finite games are the...

To his colleagues, Richard Feynman was not so much a genius as he was a full-blown magician: someone who “does things that nobody else could do and that seem completely unexpected.” The path he cleared for twentieth-century physics led from the making of the atomic bomb to a Nobel...

A physicist explains daily phenomena from the mundane to the magisterial. Take a look up at the stars on a clear night and you get a sense that the universe is vast and untouchable, full of mysteries beyond comprehension. But did you know that the key to unveiling the secrets of the cosmos is as...

In these lively and fascinating essays, scientists from around the world weigh in on the latest advances in the search for intelligent life in the universe and discuss just what that might look like. Since 2000, science has seen a surge in data and interest on several fronts related to E.T...

Shakespeare's era was abuzz with mathematical progress, from the new concept of "zero" to Galileo's redraft of the heavens. Now, Rob Eastaway uncovers the many surprising ways math shaped Shakespeare's plays—and his world—touring astronomy, code-breaking, color theory, navigation, music, sports, and more.

It is widely understood that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution completely revolutionized the study of biology. Yet, according to David Sloan Wilson, the Darwinian revolution won’t be truly complete until it is applied more broadly—to everything associated with the words “human,”...

Daphne is not your ordinary dragon. She doesn't breathe fire—she breathes life into numbers, turning them into pictures that unravel mysteries, forge friendships, and save the day! From the imaginative mind of bestselling author Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic comes a story that will captivate kids and parents alike. Follow Daphne’s journey to distant lands, where numbers are heroes in disguise and her adventures teach the basics of graphs in a way that’s fun, interactive, and empowering.

Your personal number detox: learn how numbers have taken control of your life—and how to get it back. How many hours of sleep did you get last week? How many steps did you walk today? How many friends do you have? It seems everywhere you go, you’re surrounded by numbers. You depend on them...

What Are the Odds? is your intro to understanding the hidden mathematics of everyday life. From coin flips to casinos, lightning strikes to love stories, this book walks the line between probability and poetry—bringing clarity to the chaos and calm to the randomness. Through twelve sharp chapters (plus a bonus finale), JJ cracks open real-life situations with statistical insight, humor, and heart. You'll learn why the coin isn't fair, why streaks are a lie, and how even your tiniest decisions might ripple through the universe in ways you’ll never see coming. No math degree required. No charts.