Column

Math

Captcha the Puzzle

A computer creates a test that it can't pass but most people can.

Math

Sosa’s Corked Bat

Does Sammy Sosa's hitting reveal a corked-bat effect?

Math

Sea Shell Spirals

The golden ratio doesn't figure into the spiral structure of the chambered nautilus shell.

Math

Fibonacci’s Other Numbers

Arrays of whole numbers can give intriguing sums.

Math

Primal Surge

The Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search has netted its eighth champion.

Math

Super Bowl Crashes

Should you stay off the road immediately after the Super Bowl telecast is over?

Math

Super Bowl Crashes

Should you stay off the road immediately after the Super Bowl telecast is over?

Math

Knot Divided in Snow

The Möbius strip gets embedded in a knotty block of snow.

Math

Thirteen Spades

Poor shuffling can distort play in the game of bridge.

Math

Going with the Crowd

Choosing a restaurant can pack them in.

Math

Artful Routes

Finding the shortest routes linking cities can also produce intricate continuous-line portraits.

Math

Sphere Worlds

Painting on spheres offers a novel perspective on the world.