It was around this time, three years ago, that I first heard the words "Paranormal Distribution" on a Teams call. So in the spirit1 of Halloween, here's a brief exploration of the Paranormal Distribution, a (super)natural extension of the Gaussian model that describes data unexplainable by conventional statistics. The normal distribution, or Gaussian curve, underpins … Continue reading On the Statistical Properties of the Paranormal Distribution
Why 501? The Maths Behind Darts Scoring
Having wrapped up a morning of introductory lectures, I was at the student pub playing a game of darts with some of my friends and trying to remember how on earth the scoring in darts actually worked. Why 501? Why does it feel so hard to finish even when you're close? And who decided that … Continue reading Why 501? The Maths Behind Darts Scoring
Catenaries in the Wild: From Spider Webs to Suspension Bridges
There's something really nice when you look at the curve in all these photos. You can see it in the power lines, the arc of a chain, or if you've ever looked closely enough, a spider web. Part of the inspiration for this post goes to my chaotic but lovely FM Mechs class where we … Continue reading Catenaries in the Wild: From Spider Webs to Suspension Bridges
On Gaining Perspective
Last year, I was rejected from Oxford. No interview, just a flat-out rejection for Maths. In hindsight, that became one of the biggest turning points in my life and gave me something much more valuable than I expected: perspective. You don't always get what you want. Sometimes, you don't even get what you might deserve. … Continue reading On Gaining Perspective
Lessons from a Pale Blue Dot
When I first watched Cosmos back in February 2021, I didn’t realise it would become one of the most comforting things I’d ever seen. I had just turned 14 at that time, and there was something about Carl Sagan’s gentle and reverent voice that made me ponder about life in a way I didn’t expect. … Continue reading Lessons from a Pale Blue Dot
From 0 Bars to 5G: What’s Really Going On
Ever wondered why you sometimes get perfect signal in some random field in Wales but can't even load a message while inside a lift? Or how you're able to make an emergency call even when your phone says No Service? Or why your phone switches from 4G to 3G (or refuses to load anything at … Continue reading From 0 Bars to 5G: What’s Really Going On
Becoming a ‘Mathemagician’: The 27 Card Trick
I love a deck of cards. It's amazing to think about all the things that can be done with cards- from card games to building a house of cards to just shuffling mindlessly. One of my absolute favourite things1 is learning and performing card tricks. There's something deeply satisfying about sleight-of-hand tricks which can leave … Continue reading Becoming a ‘Mathemagician’: The 27 Card Trick
Exams, Burnout, and Finding Balance
You can love a subject deeply and still feel like exams are destroying you. You can work hard, care a lot, and still walk out of an exam room feeling like you’ve failed. With A-Level Results Day just around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the pressure, the grades, and the system … Continue reading Exams, Burnout, and Finding Balance
The Case for Side Projects
I used to think (and honestly, I still do sometimes) that I needed to “learn everything first” before starting a programming project. I’d spent hours reading textbooks or watching YouTube videos feeling like I was “being productive”. But I’ve never actually code. Part of me was scared of getting it wrong, of producing something “rubbish”. … Continue reading The Case for Side Projects
The National Cipher Challenge – More Than Just Codebreaking
I’ve been meaning to write about how I got into codebreaking, so here’s the start of a small series on maths, ciphers, and curiosity. A lot of experiences have shaped the curious, questioning person I am today, but I wasn’t always like this. Looking back, one of the biggest turning points came in Year 10, … Continue reading The National Cipher Challenge – More Than Just Codebreaking
Can a Machine ever be Conscious?
Introduction This post is adapted from a 5000-word essay I wrote for my sixth-form research project discussing whether a machine could ever be conscious. If you’re curious, a link to the full essay PDF with references is attached at the end of this blog.1 My blog doesn’t intend to dive straight into number crunching or … Continue reading Can a Machine ever be Conscious?
Rekindling
It’s been exactly 20 days since my last A-Level exam. And honestly? I thought I’d feel free. But instead, I’ve been left with this strange, heavy emptiness, a kind of grief almost. It feels as if I’ll never be able to enjoy learning again, or find anything that lights me up the way maths once … Continue reading Rekindling
Maths Rant 