Skip to content

Comment

Two beguiling books show how mathematics is revolutionising our lives

Enjoy Piero Martin’s The Seven Measures of the World, stories about measurement, and explore Four Ways of Thinking by David Sumpter, as he argues that maths can improve our lives

23 October 2023

New Scientist Default Image — A three-dimensional quantum gas atomic clock.
Science Photo Library

The Seven Measures of the World

Piero Martin

Yale University Press

Four Ways of Thinking

David Sumpter

Allen Lane

Blame the sundial. A dinner guest in a poem by the Roman writer Plautus, his stomach rumbling, complains that: “The town’s so full of these confounded dials / The greatest part of the inhabitants, / Shrunk up with hunger, crawl along the streets”.

We have been slaves to number ever since. Not that we need complain, according to two recent books. Experimental physicist Piero…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 2nd of July 2024.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account

More from New Scientist

Explore the latest news, articles and features

TEWKESBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 05: Flood water surrounds Tewkesbury Abbey and surrounding streets because of widespread flooding after the Rivers Swilgate and Avon burst their banks on January 5, 2024 in Gloucestershire, England. Storm Henk brought strong winds and heavy rain across much of the country this week which lashed large parts of the country, hitting travel and cutting power. While across the UK numerous flood warnings were still in place after weeks of heavy rainfall, the UK's Environment Agency has warned people to expect flooding to become more frequent because of climate change. (Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images)

Comment

Sunken Lands review: Heeding the flood warnings of history

Culture

Subscriber-only

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock (14291785a) GELDERMALSEN - A student puts his cell phone in a phone pocket at ORS Lek and Linge secondary school. Since January 1, 2024, there has been a national ban on the use of mobile phones in the classroom. High School Phone Ban, Geldermalsen, Netherlands - 09 Jan 2024

Comment

Unlocked review: Why we don't need to panic about our phones

Culture

Subscriber-only

human brain

Mind

Single mathematical model governs primate brain shape across species

News

Subscriber-only

EYY5BE Caucasian artist painting in studio

Comment

Why We Remember review: A surprising and expert guide to memory

Culture

Subscriber-only

1

Sulphur dioxide from Iceland volcano eruption has reached the UK

2

Mathematician wins 2024 Abel prize for making sense of randomness

3

Largest recorded solar storm was even bigger than we thought

4

Amazingly preserved Bronze Age village reveals life in ancient England

5

How neuroscience can help you make tough decisions - with no regrets

6

Why 2024 Abel prize winner Michel Talagrand became a mathematician

7

Medieval horses buried in London had far-flung origins

8

Extinct freshwater dolphin from the Amazon was largest of all time

9

Nobel-winning biologist on the most promising ways to stop ageing

10

Ancient campsite may show how humans survived volcanic super-eruption