The 24 Hour Maths Game Show

Following the 24 Hour Maths Magic Show two years ago, this coming weekend brings the 24 Hour Maths Game Show!  Starting at 7pm on Friday 28 October there will be 24 hours of mathematicians presenting mathematical games, or games about mathematics.  For details of the stellar line-up and the exciting fun in prospect see the event website.  The event is raising money for four excellent charities - Beat Eating Disorders, the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, the Disasters Emergency Committee, and the Malala Fund: donations to one or more on the event Just Giving page. 

I have the coveted Saturday morning 8:30-9am slot UK time (which is prime time for viewers in some part of the world) and I’ll be talking about the Hypergame paradox and how I trapped two students into starting a game which may go on for ever.  (There is a happy ending.)

Mathematicians' diaries in the time of Covid

 How did mathematicians cope with the Covid lockdowns?  COVIDIARY of Mathematicians is a new book published by the Mathematical Society Archimedes of Belgrade.  It presents diaries from April 2020 of seven mathematicians in different parts of the world - Tiago Hirth (Lisbon), Guido Ramellini (Barcelona), James Tanton (Phoenix), Jovan Knezevic (Belgrade), Kiran Bacche (Bangalore), Sergio Belmonte (Altafulla), and Tijana Marković (Belgrade).  Their diaries feature mathematics and (excellent) puzzles, mountainlettes, cooking and shopping, in the strangest of times.  The book is beautifully produced, with copious colour pictures, and QR-codes taking the smartphone-equipped reader further afield.  The editors Aleksandra Ravas and Dragana Stošić Milijković have done a wonderful job, providing full explanations in footnotes of any reference which might be unfamiliar to some readers.  Solutions are provided to the puzzles!  If you have the opportunity, I strongly recommend that you explore this book!