Updates on my research and expository papers, discussion of open problems, and other maths-related topics. By Terence Tao
Climbing the cosmic distance ladder
Tanya Klowden and Terence Tao
in preparation
This project is based on a public lecture on the cosmic distance ladder that I have given on occasion. Working with my good friend Tanya Klowden (who has some experience in writing popular articles on astronomy), we are expanding the lecture into a popular science book, and working with Yale University Press to get it published.
Here is a sample chapter for the book, which is still in preparation.
 | tt on A Host–Kra F^omega_2-sys… |
 | Joe Smith on Mathematics for Humanity initi… |
 | Michael Ruxton on A counterexample to the period… |
 | KEW on Equidistribution of Syracuse r… |
 | a on A Host–Kra F^omega_2-sys… |
 | Alison Playle on A new proof of the density Hal… |
| Alison Playle on A new proof of the density Hal… |
 | Anonymous on A new proof of the density Hal… |
| Anonymous on A new proof of the density Hal… |
| a on A Host–Kra F^omega_2-sys… |
| Anonymous on A Host–Kra F^omega_2-sys… |
| Arman on A Host–Kra F^omega_2-sys… |
 | Solomon Ucko on There’s more to mathematics th… |
 | Eric Naslund on Density Hales-Jewett and Moser… |
| Eric Naslund on Density Hales-Jewett and Moser… |
The Polymath BlogBlog at WordPress.com.Ben Eastaugh and Chris Sternal-Johnson.
What's new
3 comments
Comments feed for this article
2 December, 2020 at 8:52 am
Anonymous
when will it be commercially available?
13 March, 2021 at 9:30 am
wangminfei
Popular explanation of three axis rotation mechanics of badminton
As for the three-axis rotation of badminton racket, my explanation is relatively easy to understand. Everything that rotates has a center of rotation and a center of mass balance (center of gravity). Because there are three arms rotating, the center (center of gravity) is on the third arm. Although the center of rotation is in the middle of the two arms, it will no longer fall on the center of balance (center of gravity) As long as the center of rotation always falls on the center of equilibrium (center of gravity), the reversal will not occur. The rotation center of the earth intersects at the center of equilibrium (center of gravity), so it is almost impossible to reverse. If any rotation center intersects at the center of material balance (center of gravity), it will not reverse, otherwise it will reverse.
Do you think I can explain this better than you?
17 December, 2021 at 10:59 am
statisticswillkillyou
Dear Prof Tao.
Thanks so much for the sample chapter, it did not disappoint. Really looking forward to the whole book.
Just a small observation, it seemed weird to me that you didnt mention Grothendieck on you analogy of the chestnut, since I suppose you admire him and it is well known passage by him:
“I can illustrate the … approach with the … image of a nut to be opened. The first analogy that came to my mind is of immersing the nut in some softening liquid, and why not simply water? From time to time you rub so the liquid penetrates better, and otherwise you let time pass. The shell becomes more flexible through weeks and months — when the time is ripe, hand pressure is enough, the shell opens like a perfectly ripened avocado! ”
[The attribution has been added in the latest version of the manuscript – T.]