Maths at the Big Bang Fair: Everywhere and Nowhere

I've just got back from 2026's Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, having last attended in 2024. On both occasions my attendance was as a volunteer for an organisation whose name I won't mention here because I want it to be clear that these are my thoughts rather than theirs. This year, I left feeling thoughtful. In contrast, my experience in 2024 left me frustrated enough to decline an invitation to return in 2025. To introduce the source of that frustration, I invite you to play a game of 'spot the difference':

Spot the difference: lanyards from The Big Bang Fair 2024 (left) and 2026 (right)

The return of the "M" to Big Bang's branding was encouraging. But after three days at the fair, I came away wondering whether mathematics had really returned in any meaningful sense. Maths was everywhere at the event, yet almost nowhere was it recognised as maths.

Book Review: Dreams of Amarna by Rachel Mary Wright - Craft, Creativity & Archaeology

In this review of Dreams of Amarna by Rachel Mary Wright, I explore how an art-based creative journey intersects with themes of archaeology, textile art, and unexpected mathematical thinking. This post offers both a personal reflection on the book and key takeaways for readers interested in creative process, history, and cultural exploration.

Introducing Dreams of Amarna

Unusually amongst books that get reviewed on this blog, Dreams of Amarna is not a maths book. Of course, it's difficult to see anything as entirely 'not-maths', but this 170-odd page, full-colour, hardback tale of embroidery is about as far outside my usual comfort-zone as it's possible to get.

Book cover: Dreams of Amarna, by Rachel Mary Wright

Goodbye 2025...

We are, I am reliably informed, near to that arbitrary point in our planet's orbit at which much of humanity habitually mark the end of one and the beginning of another. I'm usually neither sentimental nor self-obsessed enough to write something to mark the occasion with a blog post, but looking back on the last eleven months and thirty days I'm struggling more than usual to convince myself that nothing much has happened. Aside from being one internal organ down on the complement I started 2025 with fifty-two-and-seven-fiftieths weeks ago^[1], a handful of things happened that I consider (in an entirely self-indulgent sense) to be noteworthy.

Seeing my own book for sale in the British Library's bookshop was pretty cool.

I might even get away with describing some of them as:

Carnival of Mathematics #246

Hello and welcome to December 2025's Carnival of Mathematics!

We've reached Carnival number $246 = 2 \times 3 \times 41$, and that's special for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that its digits are, in order, the first three terms in one of the first sequences most of us were introduced to; the chicken soup of all integer progressions that is the two times table.

$246$ is also the current best-known upper-bound for the minimum size of gap that exists between an infinite number of pairs of consecutive primes. It's palindromic in (e.g.) bases 5, 9, and 40; it is untouchable (which means that it is not expressible as the sum of the proper factors of any other number); and if you had a bit of string and seven of each of two colours of bead, you could make one of  $246$ different necklaces (using every bead).

And in maths history, Indiana House Bill No. $246$ was an 1897 foray into proof by legislation: it proposed to square the circle using a method that, among other things, implied that $ \pi =3.2 $.

You've taken your seats and loaded up on popcorn, so let's get started on the Carnival's...

Maths in Museums: The Geometry of Castle Keeps (and Why Shapes are Important to Architecture)

Castle keeps come in many shapes - circles, squares, rectangles, and other polygons - and these choices were not accidental. In this post, I explore the geometry of castle keeps, how mathematical considerations influenced medieval military architecture, and what you can still see today when visiting historic sites and museums.

I'm no square

I recently took time out for a quick weekend away in South Wales. The itinerary involved, as is only right, castles^[1]. I was struck by the geometric shapes of the keeps - particularly one with a circular cross-section at Tretower castle, and a larger one with a hexagonal base that forms part of Raglan castle.

The Circular Keep at Tretower © 2025 by T. Briggs is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Maths in Museums: Roaring Meg at Goodrich Castle

In this post I explore how a Civil War mortar at Goodrich Castle illustrates mathematical ideas about angles and projectile motion - part of a broader “Maths in Museums” series.

Introduction: Roaring Meg at Goodrich Castle

A found some maths at Goodrich Castle: a ten-minute drive from the Welsh border in Herefordshire, England, it has to be one of my favourites^[1]. It's a Norman medieval ruin (now looked after by English Heritage) that played host to an English Civil War siege by Parliamentary forces upon the Royalist forces stationed there. Despite not having its defences updated to 17th-century standards the medieval castle stood up well to direct attacks and artillery was introduced, with Parliamentary Army Colonel John Birch commissioning the casting of a Civil War mortar called Roaring Meg.

Roaring Meg at Goodrich Castle © 2025 by Thomas K. Briggs is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Maths in Museums: Bolsover Castle

For years I have been periodically prompted to think "ah yes, must go there one day" by signs for Bolsover Castle as I pass through the vicinity of Junction 29A on the M1. That day, as all things must surely do, finally came to pass on Monday 11th August, 2025^[1].

Bolsover Castle © 2025 by Tom Briggs is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

As with all posts in the Maths in Museums series, it is not for me to tell you how or when to visit, how much it costs, or even much about the history of the site (though some will surely creep in). All of that can be left to English Heritage, who are its current custodians. Our purpose here is to uncover some of the opportunities for mathematical exploration that I spotted during my visit^[2]. As with most museums and galleries, there's no interpretation at the site that will help you to structure any exploration of these ideas.

Book Review: Love Triangle by Matt Parker

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the book on the promise that I would write this review, but you have my word that what follows is my honest appraisal! I need to take this opportunity to apologise profusely to Matt^[1]. Love Triangle is Matt Parker’s playful and deeply mathematical exploration of why triangles - and trigonometry, geometry, and other mathematical themes - matter in the real world.

Love Triangle, The Life Changing Magic of Trigonometry^[2] is Matt Parker's n^th offering to the pop-sci shelves in your bookshop of choice, where n is a number that's a little bigger every time I look it up. He's one of the more well-known current writers of books destined for that section that have an explicit focus on maths, mathematical applications, and real-world examples of maths; and his trademark informal style of unashamed explicit nerdity carried along by a current of comic sarcasm might not be for everyone, but it does seem to do the job for more people than it doesn't.

My copy of the book starts with a note...

Maths Trails at Cultural and Heritage Sites

Many museums, galleries, and other heritage sector sites offer trails for visitors (including booked school groups and members of the public). Trails are a great way to help visitors of all stripes to structure a visit in an engaging way, and can be used to provide additional - or different - context, and to draw attention to particular themes.

One possible use of a trail activity is to encourage the use of mathematical skills to analyse whatever the trail guides them towards, or to highlight the role of mathematics in the objects and stories encountered where the exhibitions themselves may not have been designed with this in mind.

Prompted by a post in a TMiP chat group and a similar conversation on a GEM discussion list I thought I'd collate some of the examples and supporting resources in one place: I know that users of museums and galleries often seek out maths-related activities and events; and an increasing number of sector organisations are looking to develop their own, so I hope that this compilation might be useful for people in either camp.

Maths trails in action

These are maths trails out in the real world that I'm currently aware of, listed in alphabetical order of the organisation that offers them:

Edinburgh: The University of Edinburgh's Maths Outreach team created this digital interactive Discover Edinburgh's Mathematical History trail: browse from the comfort of your own home, or fire up your phone (assuming you've got a good data plan) and march across the streets of Edinburgh. (Google Maps link)

Museum on the Mound (Edinburgh): I'm told that The Money Maths at the Museum trail is popular with school groups, and that they occasionally bring it out for public use, e.g. during Maths Week Scotland. If you'd like them to offer a maths trail for general visitors, it wouldn't hurt to let them know. (Google Maps link)

National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh): The A World of Maths Trail is downloadable as a .pdf. It's targeted at teachers to use to print for their students and bring to enrich a school trip to the site, but there's absolutely nothing to stop anyone else using it, and the teachers notes available from that page are useful outside that demographic too. (Google Maps link)

The Science Museum (London): Their Maths Activity Trail is a downloadable .pdf that aims to support visitors as they work their way through the Winton Mathematics Gallery and Science City 1550 – 1800: The Linbury Gallery. It's aimed at teachers, but as its offered as a free public download there's nothing to stop anyone making the most of it. (Google Maps Link)

Scotland (various locations plus location-independent resources): Each year an increasing number of museums and galleries offer mathematical activities including trails for Maths Week Scotland, which usually takes place towards the end of September. The Maths Week Scotland website lists activity packs and learning resources for schools (freely and openly accessible regardless of whether you represent a school or not); a community learning resource; family activities to do at home; and events offered by a host of museums, galleries, and other organisations across Scotland. Many of the events listed are exclusively offered during Maths Week Scotland, so do make sure you get in touch with your local sites and let them know that you'd like the option to experience maths in museums during the other 51 weeks of the year too!

York Minster: Their Maths Quest trail is available either as a .pdf downloaded from their website, or their Learning Resources page (which lists this along with trails on other themes) says that you can 'collect them at the Welcome Desk when you arrive.' (Google Maps link)

Your local museum or gallery: If your favourite local site isn't listed here and you'd like it to be, then get in touch with them and let them know that you want their help to explore the maths in their stories, objects and exhibitions. When I ask people who work for a museum or gallery why they don't offer resources to help visitors engage with the mathematics that's just out of site, they usually tell me it's because nobody asks them to...

So ask them to!

• Does your organisation offer a maths trail that you think should be featured here? 
• Is anything listed here out of date (e.g. a link is broken or a site no longer offers a listed trail)?

If so, post a comment or get in touch.

Resources for people interested in creating their own maths trails

University of Bath Cryptography Challenge case study (from Maths Engagement Case Studies): https://katiesteckles.co.uk/casestudies/CS_Bath-Crypto-Competition.html

Math in the City: Designing a Math Trail for High School Students (chapter 4 of Handbook of Mathematical Science Communication): https://ionicasmeets.com/Publicaties/1887_3567511-2023-Bossema-Zwetsloot-Smeets_Book_chapter_Math_trail.pdf

• Do you know about an excellent resource aimed at helping people to create maths trails that isn't listed here?
• Are any of these resources no longer available (e.g. a link is broken)?

If so, post a comment or get in touch.

Books That Are About Maths, But Not About Teaching It

In the spirit of getting straight to the point without providing my entire life history, please click below for a list of books that are about maths, but not about teaching it. Read beyond the link if you'd like a bit of context.

Click here to see the list of Books that Are About Maths, But Not About Teaching It

The list has been put together at The StoryGraph^[2]: it can be browsed without creating an account and it can be searched, sorted and filtered, which I thought would be helpful as there are over 160 books.

Peter Briggs: 26/04/1952 - 25/06/2024

My dad, Peter Briggs, died in the early hours of 25th June 2024 and we held his funeral yesterday, 22nd July. some of those who were able to attend have requested a copy of the eulogy and readings, and some of those who unfortunately could not join us in person have expressed an interest in hearing more about them too, so I thought it might be nice to preserve some of what happened at our celebration of Peter Briggs. The number of people who were able to attend was astonishing and he would have been overwhelmed by the gathering of well-wishers who came to say goodbye with us. The number of ex-colleagues alone, considering that he retired five years ago, was testament to the effect he'd had during his 49 years working in the same building.

Dad's favourite treat was chocolate raisins, so I bought three kilograms of them and shared them between nearly one hundred (Moody) blue organza wedding-favour bags to give out to attendees.

Maths in Museums: Museum of London Docklands

Edit: Since posting this, the Museum of London has re-branded itself as London Museum, meaning that the Museum of London Docklands is now London Museum Docklands.

One of the great things about working as a consultant in the heritage sector is that it often takes me to museums, galleries and heritage sites that I might not otherwise have got around to visiting. This time it was the Museum of London Docklands, located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The museum itself is nestled towards the North-West extent of the Isle of Dogs, which is the peninsula delineated by that famous wiggle^[1] in London's section of the Thames. It played host to the West India Docks which first opened in 1802 and closed for business in 1980^[2] to be redeveloped into the area now known as Canary Wharf.

Maths in Museums: Stonehenge

On Saturday morning I crested a hill on the A303 just past Amesbury and my brain yelled something that I imagine a million and more brains, over thousands of years, have yelled before mine:

"What the hell is that!?"

It did this despite having made a special trip to the area to see that which caused the outburst, and it wasn't even the first time it had done so. As old as the pyramids (or thereabouts) and at once out of place yet totally fitting, Stonehenge is a phenomenal thing to see rising out of the Wiltshire countryside - even when you're expecting it.

A photograph of Stonehenge, taken by me, but looking for all the world like a cardboard cutout on a movie set.

I love museums and heritage sites of all shapes, sizes and themes, but Stonehenge has always commanded a particular fascination. I'm neither religious nor spiritual, but visiting always feels like something of a pilgrimage. I work with museums and I'm also a maths communicator, both of which affect the way I look at cultural experiences: this post is intended to document some of the thoughts I had regarding the potential of Stonehenge's story for enriching mathematical understanding (and vice-versa).

Teachers and BIDMAS, BODMAS, PEMDAS, GEMS, etc

Here's one for you:

Do even maths teachers argue about this? by T. Briggs, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

But before we get onto that, have a think about this one:

\[8 \div 2 \times (2 + 2) \]

I've had a post on this subject in mind for (quite literally) years, but it's such a contentious topic I haven't dared to commit it to HTML until I was sure it was ready. The problem is that with anything involving mathematics the conversation very quickly descends into complaining about maths teachers and listing what they're doing wrong and what they should be doing right, and how horrible and evil and lazy they all are. So:

Maths teachers are hard-working, knowledgeable gifts to society. This post is not intended in any way to be a criticism of these real-world superheroes. They are an endangered species as it is and I'm sick of seeing ill-informed vitriol directed at them online. Anybody who takes anything in this post and uses it to attack maths teachers hasn't understood it at all. The problems with mathematics in modern Western society are many and varied, and cannot be solved by maths teachers alone. Any proposed solution to these problems that begins with "maths teachers should..." is short-sighted at best.

 Now that's out of the way I can return to my theme.

Maths in the Movies: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

The 5th movie in the Indiana Jones series was released in the UK on 28th June 2023. Amongst the fans in my circle of friends it has been well-received, certainly more so than the 4th instalment (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) was. This isn't a general review^[1], but a brief discussion of some of the mathematical themes that make an appearance.

I'll do my best to make the following spoiler-free, but as I'm discussing things that happen in the movie I can't guarantee that I'll manage. With that in mind, if you haven't yet seen the movie the safest course of action would be to lock this post in a snake-ridden vault and grab your hat & whip and head out to the cinema before reading any further.

Do Maths Teachers Think They're Mathematicians?

A topic that pops up time and time again in an online community of maths communicators that I am a member of is who gets to call themselves a mathematician?^[1] Something I've wondered for a while is how maths teachers see themselves: Do they feel comfortable referring to themselves as a "mathematician"? Do they want to be included in that set?

Tokikom. Anboto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

I did the only thing that can be done in such situations: I employed that most rigorous of statistical tools, the Twitter poll.

Books with Maths in Them: Diaspora (Greg Egan)

Greg Egan is an author I hadn't encountered until Albert recommended one of his books in response to my request for 'books with maths in them'.

Diaspora is, at the time of writing, available for only 99p on Amazon Kindle.

Diaspora, released in 1997, is a science fiction novel set some time after much of humanity has left behind corporeal form to become software-based beings living in simulated realties. They interact with the 'real' universe by way of a network of probes, sensors, drones and digital archives spread out across the solar system and collectively known as the Coalition of Polises, with the post-humans who exist within it referred to as Citizens. Some people eschewed this mass-migration and remained as biological entities (known as Fleshers) but have since formed a variety of communities representing the span of possibilities between using science to heavily modify their genes (for longevity, improved intelligence, or to thrive in extreme environments, for example), and just letting nature take its course. Somewhere in between are the Gleisners who transmuted into digital form but inhabit individual, flesher-shaped robots in order to interact more closely and personally with the real world.

Green's Windmill & Science Centre: Museum Review

It's not immediately obvious where Green's Windmill and Science Centre is in relation to the signposted car park, which is shared with a nursery school. It might seem strange that an entire windmill can hide behind a small school, but it took a bit of wandering before realising that there's a path to the side of the school. Once on this path the windmill came into view, the flaking paint of its white dome hinting at its age and modern usage.

Green's Windmill & Science Centre by T. Briggs is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

It's one of those small local museums that's run by love rather than money, an observation supported by the Green's Windmill Trust plea for donations of time, money or skills to help in its mission to keep the sails turning and promote the reputation of George Green. The trust began as a small band of enthusiasts aiming to preserve a piece of local heritage, becoming a registered charity in 2012.

Kindle Scribe Software Update: New Pen Styles

 ... and as if by magic Amazon have released an update for the Kindle Scribe.

An email arrived on Tuesday 28^th Feb announcing an update, which would either automatically arrive on my Scribe at some point, or I could download and install it manually. Of course, I didn't wait.

The update does address a few minor things that appear on my Scribe wish list:

My Kindle Scribe Feature Wishlist

Don't want the back-story & just came for the list? Click here.

I've had a Kindle since Christmas Day 2010. It was a Kindle Keyboard 3G: one of those with a free mobile internet connection so you could download new books on the fly, hassle free. My mum got it for me for Christmas and, twelve-years-and-counting later, it's still going strong. I've always loved it^[1], and I've regularly been tempted to upgrade to a new model but didn't because, well, I had no reason too. None of the following models added anything I needed or even that I particularly coveted.

Amazon's long-discontinued Kindle Keyboard 3G

For twelve years there was only really one thing I could think of that would make me want to upgrade my Kindle to a new model. For twelve years I waited.

And then it came.