TCP006 | ⏰ ~6min read
Welcome to The Contemporary Polymath Newsletter, where you broaden your horizons, feed your curiosity, and spark new ideas on Thursdays
📧 In This Issue
- 🔢 The Infinite Mystery of Pi – From space travel to timekeeping, why this irrational number holds the universe together
- 🏗️ The Math Behind Everything – How combinatorics powers AI, medical research & even Google Search
- 🎧 How Noise-Canceling Tech Works – The hidden science behind silencing the world around you
👋🏾 Hey there, friend!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey through tech and math, it’s that patterns are everywhere. From the algorithms that shape what we see online to the numbers quietly guiding everyday decisions, math and technology fuel the systems we rely on—whether we realize it or not.
This week, I’ve been thinking about the hidden logic behind our choices. Math isn’t just about numbers on a page—it’s about probability, patterns, and predictions. Whether it’s a quadratic equation shaping the arc of a perfect basketball shot or combinatorics determining how search engines rank results, math and tech intersect in ways that impact our daily lives more than we think.
That curiosity has also sparked something new: I’m considering launching Naya’s Take—a new series where I break down research studies and analyze them through my own lens. This week’s psychology section is a small preview, where I unpack how social media alters identity and perception. Expect more deep dives into complex ideas—whether it’s how AI impacts human decision-making or the psychology behind the systems we use every day.
Next week, we’ll shift gears into psychology and the mind, diving into the subtle ways technology rewires our brains. But for now, let’s explore the hidden math and tech shaping the world around us.
Enjoy this week’s issue!
🌍This Week’s Explorations
Written by Us
Math
🤖 Combinatorics isn’t just about counting—it’s the key to unlocking AI, medical breakthroughs, and even Google’s search algorithms. This hidden field of math predicts possibilities that shape our everyday lives.
🥧 The infinite mystery of pi appears in everything from physics equations to nature’s spirals. But did you know this never-ending number even influences music, timekeeping, and space travel?
🏀 Quadratic equations shape the world in ways we rarely think about—from predicting the perfect basketball shot to stabilizing bridges and making video game physics feel real.
Technology
⚙️ Alexander Miles changed the course of city skylines in 1887 when he patented an automatic elevator door system, preventing fatal accidents and making skyscrapers safer for all.
🎧 Noise-canceling headphones don’t just block sound—they generate “anti-noise” to erase distractions in real-time. Whether on a plane, train, or noisy café, this breakthrough tech rewires how we experience silence.
Psychology
Naya’s Take: The Psychology of Social Media Distortion
🧠 Social media’s validation loop may be warping reality, blurring the line between real life and digital identity while amplifying delusions.
🔍 Intriguing Finds
A curated selection of news and discoveries
- 💿 Cool malicious thumbs drives
- ⌨️ This is Here’s how I use LLMs to help me write code by Simon Willison
- 🎨 Parents in Tech Want Their Kids to Go Into the Arts Instead
- 🏫 Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have developed an AI-based math learning system that tracks students’ eye movements for individualized support
📖 Books We Are Reading
Book recs for this week
Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code by Ruha Benjamin
Benjamin reveals how seemingly “objective” technologies actually reproduce and amplify inequities through what she calls the “New Jim Code.” She offers not just critique but hope—showing how we can develop abolitionist tools for more just technological futures.
Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines by Dr. Joy Buolamwini
AI systems encode racial and gender bias through what Buolamwini calls the “coded gaze.” Her work founding the Algorithmic Justice League offers hope for more equitable technology that protects human dignity.
Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football by John Urschel
John Urschel shares his journey of excelling in both professional football and advanced mathematics, proving intellect and athleticism can coexist. His story highlights discipline, curiosity, and perseverance in navigating two demanding worlds.
Women Who Count: Honoring African American Women Mathematicians
This activity book celebrates 29 groundbreaking African American women mathematicians through biographies and engaging math puzzles. It showcases brilliant minds from “Hidden Figures” to doctoral pioneers whose contributions changed both mathematics and history.
Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics by Talithia Williams PhD
Williams highlights extraordinary women mathematicians who overcame incredible obstacles to revolutionize fields from aerospace to statistics. Through these inspiring stories, she emphasizes how mentorship can empower the next generation of women in STEM.
👥 Readers Corner
Share what you’re reading, your favorite “Polymath Notebook” find, and I’ll feature the most intriguing responses in next week’s issue!
💭 How Inquisitive
🔙 Answer to last week’s question
Is there a hidden mathematical pattern in how people make decisions?
Yes! Our brains unconsciously follow mathematical patterns when making choices. Even when decisions feel purely emotional, they often obey predictable formulas balancing risk versus reward—following the same equations that gamblers, investors, and algorithms use to maximize outcomes.
⏭️Question for next week
📱 Could AI-powered algorithms subtly shape your thoughts?
Loved this issue or have ideas for future topics? I’d love to hear from you! And of course i’ll give you a shout out for your contribution.😊
Loved this issue or have ideas for future topics? I’d love to hear from you! And of course i’ll give you a shout out for your contribution.😊
🇹🇿 Jitunze! Uwe na siku, jioni, au usiku mzuri popote ulipo. Kuwa mwema!
🇺🇸 Take care. Have a wonderful day, evening, or night wherever you are. Be kind!
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Thank you to my recent supporters: Anne, Benjamin, Victoria, and J.
Best,
Naya
