Blog – Page 2 – C. Sean Bohun

A Poll at the Forum

March 1, 2014February 27, 2014 by seanmathmodelguy

Often I see polls saying that Rob Ford has a political base that is either made of concrete or completely at odds with the reality of what it means to be a responsible leader that represents the people. The most recent example is a tweet in #TOpoli today citing an article in the Toronto Star … Read moreA Poll at the Forum

Confirming a New Years resolution

February 10, 2014February 9, 2014 by admin

Over the last year I have been taking note of some of the stories in the various science/tech news feeds with of hope of eventually finding the time to expound on them in a format such as this. There is really no perfect time to commence such an activity and over the winter break I … Read moreConfirming a New Years resolution

ICIAM has a newsletter

January 25, 2013 by seanmathmodelguy

I’ve received the following email from ICIAM and wanted to bring this to the wider mathematics community. Dear Colleagues, The January 2013 issue — Volume 1, No 1 — of the ICIAM Newsletter is now available. Please visit www.iciam.org/news to download a PDF copy of the Newsletter from the link that you will find there, … Read moreICIAM has a newsletter

On the origin of \(x\)

August 16, 2012 by seanmathmodelguy

Recently I had the opportunity to watch Why the \(x\) is Unknown TED talk from Terry Moore but I soon realized after talking to a colleague that the explanation Terry gives is much too simplified. Since there are cultural aspects to this question I’ve asked my colleague Carmen for her opinion. Have a listen in. Carmen, … Read moreOn the origin of \(x\)

Scientists find that “perfect” systems may be surprisingly fragile September 19, 2026

Complex systems may work better when their parts are not perfectly alike. Northwestern physicists found that carefully balanced variation, or “disorder,” can make networks such as power grids, ecosystems, neurons, and materials more stable. Even random differences sometimes improved stability compared with completely uniform systems. The discovery could help researchers design more resilient technologies and […]

The shape behind the Einstein problem just revealed strange new physics September 15, 2026

A mathematical shape famous for covering a surface without ever repeating has revealed an unexpected ability to twist light into unusual chiral patterns. The discovery could lead to new ways of controlling light, polarization, and advanced optical devices.

Researchers find a Wordle strategy that wins 99% of the time September 12, 2026

Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a mathematical strategy that can solve Wordle with a 99% success rate. Instead of simply guessing words packed with common letters or choosing the most likely answer, the method uses Shannon entropy, a measure from information theory, to identify guesses that reveal the most useful information. Each guess is […]

Scientists find a way to slash computer memory energy use by orders of magnitude September 7, 2026

Scientists have devised a new way to switch magnetic computer memory while using far less energy than today's leading technologies. By mathematically optimizing the pulses used to flip digital bits, the method could reduce energy consumption by several orders of magnitude. Simulations suggest it may bring future memory devices surprisingly close to the fundamental physical […]

Harvard scientists turn knitting into shape-shifting smart fabric September 4, 2026

Harvard researchers have transformed ordinary knitting into a platform for creating fabrics that can snap between different shapes and perform useful functions. Using elastic yarns and industrial knitting techniques, the team engineered thick textiles that naturally curve and lock into multiple stable configurations, much like a light switch flipping between on and off. By adding […]