DANIEL JUSTENS
90 articles published in Tangente
Math for everyoneN°71Jul 15, 2019Loop quantum gravity
What if our universe were actually discrete? If confirmed, a bold theory known as loop quantum gravity could reconcile the physics of macroscopic gravitational fields with quantum physics. Spin plays a fundamental role in this theory.
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N°71Jul 15, 2019The tensor: an indispensable tool
Describing the universe as a whole calls for a rather abstract mathematical concept: the tensor. Einstein's equation, which links geometry to the distribution of mass in the universe, makes use of tensors to express this relationship very concisely.
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KnowledgeN°71Jul 09, 2019The mathematics of physics
Mathematical models enable us to understand and master the universe. But how far can this mastery extend? What are its limits? Mathematics allows us to devise models of the world around us and test them against reality.
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Math for everyoneN°188May 14, 2019Jean Bourgain
The prodigious Belgian mathematician Jean Bourgain (1954–2018) worked in many fields of mathematics, forging wholly unexpected links between seemingly separate areas. His outstanding results earned him numerous awards.
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History and CultureN°188May 14, 2019Astor Piazzolla and tango nuevo:
The freedom championed by the rise of contemporary music led Astor Piazzolla to break free from the stifling conventions of classical tango, both harmonically and rhythmically, and create a new form. This evolution in musical structure can be analyzed.
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KnowledgeN°70Apr 11, 2019From plate tectonics to dressing a sphere
The surface of our planet seems to consist of a hard crust. But how can we picture a sphere being covered? Plate tectonics shows that the Earth's surface is made up of moving rigid plates that rub against one another.
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History and CultureN°187Mar 26, 2019Bertrand Russell's teapot
We often hear the phrase "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." This statement is ambiguous: many fanciful claims cannot be disproved.
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Math for everyoneN°187Mar 25, 2019Telepathy
How can we be sure that the predictions made are not the result of a gift of clairvoyance? Profound results in probability, which sometimes seem counterintuitive, can help convince you that the results observed are in fact nothing out of the ordinary...
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Math for everyoneN°187Mar 25, 2019The art of making numbers talk
We are awash in numerical and statistical information. Yet even objective, accurate data can be interpreted misleadingly. A little calculation and a sound grasp of error theory can correct some unwarranted conclusions.
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History and CultureN°187Mar 22, 2019How poetry gave rise to Markov chains
Every written language has its own grammatical and lexical structure. Its sounds are represented by recurring patterns of letters whose combinations are far from chaotic.
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History and CultureN°186Jan 23, 2019Fields medalist Jean Bourgain dies at 64
Belgian mathematician Jean Bourgain died on Saturday, December 22, 2018, following a long illness.
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History and CultureN°69Jan 21, 2019From the three-body problem to mathematical chaos
The elusive three-body problem saw spectacular progress thanks to Henri Poincaré. The French mathematician went further, devising new, more geometric methods for studying dynamical systems. His research has shaped our understanding of the stability of the solar system.
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