January 7, 2013

The First Root of Unity

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

This is what I look like standing on a tilted post near Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, New York.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Welcome to Roots of Unity! I'm Evelyn Lamb, and I am a mathematician. You can read more about me here. I got my Ph.D. in math in May 2012 and started writing for Scientific American in June through an AAAS Mass Media Fellowship. My journey into science communication has been thrilling, and I'm excited to be part of the Scientific American blog network now.

I love math, but I didn't always, and I know that not everyone shares my feelings. I hope my posts will give you a taste of what I find fun, exciting, and beautiful about the wide world of numbers, shapes, and patterns. Here are some pieces from the past few months that might give you an idea of what I write about:

Deep Spaces: Geometry Labs Bring Beautiful Math to the Masses

How Much Pi Do You Need?

A Presidential Pythagorean Proof

5 Sigma—What's That?

Bridging the Gap Between Math and Art

Abandoning Algebra is Not the Answer

Fractal Kitties Illustrate the Endless Possibilities for Julia Sets. This is probably my favorite piece so far. It has fractals and a picture of a cat. What more could you want?

I love to hear from readers in the comments section, on Twitter, or via email. Scientific American requires that you register in order to comment. It's pretty painless, and you can do it with Twitter or Facebook if you want. When leaving a comment, please remember that your fellow commenters and I are human beings. Let's treat each other that way. This blog is my space, and I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic. My Twitter handle is @evelynjlamb, and if you'd like to email me about a math question that has always interested or frustrated you, you can find that under the "Contact" tab at the top of the page. I look forward to hearing from you.

If you already love math, welcome. If you were traumatized by a math class years ago, welcome. If your relationship with math is complicated, welcome. I hope there will be something here for everyone.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American