Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension by Matt Parker

This week’s book is Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension by Matt Parker, the stand-up mathematician. Again, this is a book to dip in and out of. My favourite chapter is How to Build a Computer where Matt discusses how you can create a computer from dominoes (at least 100 but 10000 is best) and also describes an amazing invention called the Antikythera Mechanism which was built between 150 and 100 BCE. This machine could track the sun and moon’s positions (and potentially those of some planets) by completing complex astronomical calculations using around thirty different gears. Imagine winding a handle and seeing what the skies will look like in the future. Other things you can learn from this book are how to slice pizzas in a more equal way, how to tie your shoelaces at high speed, and more! It’s very interactive, there are lots of experiments that anyone can try at home.

#fromwhichitallSTEMmed