Astonishing flexagones
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Amazing flexagons
Discovered by chance during the 20th century, flexagons are flat objects, generally made of paper, which, when unfolded, reveal hidden faces. They come in various shapes and different levels of complexity. These fascinating geometric objects have not yet revealed all their secrets and many properties remain to be explored. This feature will allow the novice reader to embark in "flexology" by building their first flexagons to manipulate. For others, the discovery of some examples of flexahedra will be an opportunity to question the rigidity properties of polyhedra.
Maths-Vives, mathematics to experience
Maths-Vives is a research program focused on living things, the environment and society. Equipped with funding of fifty million euros as part of the France 2030 investment plan, it is led by the CNRS. Its objective is to integrate mathematics, not only as tools serving other disciplines, but as a driver of reflection and creativity. Offering numerous partnerships with scientists from all backgrounds (medicine, biology, agriculture, geosciences, physics, economics, geography, finance, computer science…), it currently concerns ten research projects selected in 2024.
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Quadrilaterals that don't come up short on area!
While the formula for the area of an arbitrary triangle has been known for a long time, that of an arbitrary quadrilateral took longer to emerge. Yet the two formulas share a kinship — visual, if nothing else — that is quite fascinating.
Peano by his great-niece
Alongside official biographies, family accounts offer other glimpses into figures known mainly through their work. Lalla Romano, the celebrated Italian author, bears witness to her intellectual closeness with her great-uncle, Giuseppe Peano.
Mathematics at school
Worrying results show that attainment among young French pupils continues to decline, and new baccalauréat examinations in the penultimate year of high school aim to rekindle high school students' enthusiasm for mathematics.