Category: Mathematics

Scientific consensus: how research works

Research is a slow and long process. It is far from what is pictured, with a new discovery that becomes instantly the new scientific truth. When a new discovery is first made, it takes a while before it is accepted as a scientific consensus. The reason lies in how research works. Fundamental science Research is…
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Science Fun Facts #2

A new set of scientific fun facts. For the #1, head here: http://allyouneedisscience.net/science-fun-facts-1/ Mathematics The movement of a runner’s ponytail acts as a pendulum and follows the equation: Joseph B. Keller; “Ponytail motion”, SIAM J. Appl. Math., 70(7), 2667–2672; doi: 10.1137/090760477 Computer science It takes two neurons for an AI to learn how to ride a…
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Breaking the sound barrier

Like seen in the previous post [1], when an explosion is faster than the speed of sound, a shockwave is created, with a sonic boom. I didn’t detailed this phenomenon, then. So I will do it now by explaining what happens when an object producing sound moves becomes supersonic. Properties of sound A sound is…
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A B Sinusoid D E F G 🎶 (part 2)

In the previous post [1] we established how sounds and notes works. We also explained the functioning of some of the most famous instruments: guitars and pianos. These two are part of string instruments, one of three instrument families. The other two families are going to be describe in this post: wind instruments and percussion…
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A B Sinusoid D E F G 🎶 (part 1)

Music is an important part of our everyday life. It is with us when we drive, when we run, when we go out, when we chill out at home. It calms us, it relaxes us, it soothes us, it makes us happy, it affects our mood and our emotions. With their different sonorities thanks to…
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Science Fun Facts #1

Mathematics There are as many positive even numbers as there are positive numbers (even or odd). It is because the two sets are in bijection. N. Bourbaki, Éléments de mathématique : Théorie des ensembles, ISBN 978-3-540-34035-5 Computer science The first ever computer bug occurred in September 1947. Indeed, Admiral Grace Hopper used that word when she found…
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PET imaging: radioactivity to see inside the body

Medical imaging is a fantastic tool available for doctors to help find a diagnosis or to help treat patients. Almost everyone knows about X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). However there is another technique, widely used but yet less famous, Positron Emission Tomography (PET). That’s a shame because PET imaging is an…
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