The Shape and Size of the Universe: Curvature is Key

Is the universe finite or infinite in extent? This question has been a preoccupation of philosophy for millennia, and scientists continue to grapple with it. Wherever infinity appears, paradox looms up. Given the finite speed of light, an infinite cosmos would have regions forever unknowable to us. But even a finite cosmos presents perplexities: if … Continue reading The Shape and Size of the Universe: Curvature is Key →

The Cosmology of the Divine Comedy

If you think poetry and maths are poles apart, think again. Around the sixth century, Indian poet and mathematician Virahanka codified the structure of Sanskrit poetry, formulating rules for the patterns of long and short syllables. In this process, a sequence emerged in which each term is the sum of the preceding two. This is … Continue reading The Cosmology of the Divine Comedy →