A Few Bits From the Week

1)  Sudoku-lovers… Brian Hayes has another addiction to point you to:

http://bit-player.org/2017/the-uniqueness-constraint

2)  Evelyn Lamb talks about immigration… and mathematics:

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/roots-of-unity/mathematics-and-immigration/

3)  “Shortest known paper published” in a math journal:

https://tsourakakis.com/2017/03/22/shortest-known-paper-published/

4)  A Futility Closet problem very reminiscent of classic monk-climbing-mountain brainteaser:

https://www.futilitycloset.com/2017/03/19/mathless-math-puzzle/

5)  New interview with succinct, interesting Jordan Ellenberg here:
https://anthonybonato.com/2017/03/22/interview-with-a-mathematician-jordan-ellenberg/

6)  The connection between physics and the Riemann Hypothesis the last couple years has been intriguing, perhaps offering a new approach to the century+-old problem. Recent news about possible progress:
http://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/Physicists-make-major-breakthrough-towards-proof-of-Riemann-hypothesis

7)  Yesterday, I wrote briefly about Eugenia Cheng's latest, "Beyond Infinity":
https://math-frolic.blogspot.com/2017/03/about-infinity.html

8)  And if you need some laughs to end the week (and you’re a mathematician), of course there's Ben Orlin:

https://mathwithbaddrawings.com/2017/03/22/if-math-wrote-letters/

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

1)  Scott Aaronson doubts the Universe is a simulation:

http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=3208

2)  I’ve spent a lot of hours with Umbrella Cockatoos over the years, but only discovered a couple months ago that they enjoy being brushed like a dog or a cat :):