Math Potpourri

For your weekend reading/listening:

1)  This Reddit thread mentions several math podcasts (several of which I include in my list on right-side of this page), and also pointed me to the Quanta Science podcast that I was unaware of:
https://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/3r1ox2/are_there_any_good_math_podcasts_out_there/

2)  A blurb from Mathbabe this week (linking in turn to THIS Nature article) on de-biasing science (...like THAT'LL ever happen ;-):
http://mathbabe.org/2015/11/16/debiasing-techniques-in-science/

3)  In case you haven't read enough Bayesian vs. frequentist statistics pieces lately, here's another:
http://quillette.com/2015/11/13/the-great-statistical-schism/

4)  A 97-year-old mathematician/space scientist awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom:
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20151116/GZ01/151119605/1101

5)  A variety of upcoming "opportunities" with AMS (h/t to Katie Steckles for pointing it out):
http://www.ams.org/opportunities

6)  Ben Orlin's uncommon musings on Common Core:
http://mathwithbaddrawings.com/2015/11/18/9-questions-that-show-how-common-core-math-is-ruining-america/

7)  An (overdue) interview with Donald Knuth:
http://authenticinquirymaths.blogspot.com/2015/11/maths-in-science-interview-with-don.html

8)  Movie based on the life of Ramanujan now being shown... at least in Australia:
https://theconversation.com/the-man-who-knew-infinity-a-mathematicians-life-comes-to-the-movies-50777

9)  The November "Carnival of Mathematics" was posted this week:
http://www.walkingrandomly.com/?p=5894

10)  Not new, but just learned of this site devoted to new books in mathematics:
http://newbooksinmath.com/

11)  Futility Closet covers Gabriel's Horn... and more, today:
http://www.futilitycloset.com/2015/11/20/surface-matters-2/

12)  A new, wonderful (30-min.) podcast with John Conway and Siobhan Roberts (via Ian Sample and The Guardian):
http://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2015/nov/20/mathematics-john-conway-numbers-game-theory

13)  I'll end with a little miscellaneous science from the week:

a)  Physicist Sabine Hossenfelder defends scientific method (versus "self-optimization") here:
http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-scientific-method-is-not-myth.html

b)  Physicist Lisa Randall was Krista Tippett's guest on NPR's "On Being" last week:
http://onbeing.org/program/lisa-randall-dark-matter-and-the-astounding-interconnectedness-of-everything/8100

c)  And lastly, a plug for Leonard Mlodinow's latest book, "The Upright Thinkers," a very good, accessible overview and history of science.

Speaking of books, I'll be perusing John Allen Paulos' latest, "A Numerate Life" on Sunday right here at MathTango.


Potpourri BONUS! (extra NON-mathematical links of interest):


1)  A fascinating segment from last week's TED Radio Hour on the linkage between speech, stuttering, and singing:
http://www.npr.org/2014/11/21/364151177/how-does-singing-help-achieve-stillness

2)  Listening to Dave Isay talk about his StoryCorps Project never fails to put a smile on my face! Yesterday he was on Diane Rehm's show, explaining among other things, his upcoming project for the Thanksgiving holiday involving a downloaded app. If you missed it, and are having a Thanksgiving gathering, hope you find time to listen:
https://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-11-19/dave-isay-on-storycorps-and-the-great-thanksgiving-listen