Learning
Lifelong Pursuits: Hooked on Bridge
Joan L. Cannon writes: If I don’t play once a week, I miss it. If it happens that I play three times, I don’t even mind the apparent waste of time. I learn something every time I sit down at a card table. The trouble is, I can’t retain it all, so there’s always a sense of renewal and salubrious reminders of proper humility. I’ve seen Life Masters make mistakes, and that’s an encouragement. more »
Math and Metaphor
"It should not be surprising that students find poetry a useful tool for accessing these mathematical ideas: the language of poetry is precise and exact, as is the language of math. In both idioms words are heavy with meaning, and word choice is crucial. A well-constructed poem will in this manner be like a well-constructed proof." more »
Entering College Class of 2016: They have never needed an actual airline “ticket,” a set of bound encyclopedias, or Romper Room
They are probably the most tribal generation in history and they despise being separated from contact with friends. They are helping their parents understand that you don’t take pictures on “film” and that CDs and DVDs are not “tapes.” Those parents have been able to review the crime statistics for the colleges their children have applied to. more »
Apply for Martian Citizenship While You Wait for 'Seven Minutes of Terror'
Curiosity's main assignment is to investigate whether its study area ever has offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. By designing the aeroshell enclosing Curiosity to create lift and be steerable, engineers were able to build a system that lands much more precisely instead of dropping like a rock. Watch a video explaining the '7 minutes of terror'. more »
