Category Archives: Autobiographical

The Renaissance Mathematicus Roadshow

Next week the Renaissance Mathematicus will be undertaking a mini-tour of Berlin to hold two semi-popular public lectures, in German. Actually it’s the same lecture on the history of the calendar and the calendar reform held twice. On Tuesday I … Continue reading

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Filed under Autobiographical, Odds and Ends

On this day in history!

1186 BCE According to the calculation of the Greek librarian, mathematician and geodesist Eratosthenes this was the day the Greeks turned Troy into a big bonfire. I wonder if they roasted any marshmallows on the flames? 1292 CE The man … Continue reading

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Ich bin ein Gastblogger

Following Pepsi-Gate a group of Science Blogs refugees got together with other like-minded science bloggers and founded an island of science blogging excellence in hyperspace at Scientopia. For reasons that are beyond my, admittedly, limited comprehension they decided that they … Continue reading

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History, morals, ethics, reliability and authority.

This is almost certainly not going to be a very coherent or conclusive post because of the nature of its contents. One of my commentators doubted the truth of Galileo’s belief in astrology and offered up the old lame excuse … Continue reading

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Having my trumpet blown for me.

In order to set the scene for the following story I need to reveal some details of the private life of the Renaissance Mathematicus. My radio alarm clock goes off shortly before seven o’clock and after having listened to the … Continue reading

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A Christmas Trinity II: Charlie, Ivor, Robert and me.

Charles Babbage, who was born on 26th December 17911, is famous as a pioneer in the history of the computer, a fame that is to some extent exaggerated as his work, although spectacular (his analytical engine was a full von … Continue reading

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Filed under Autobiographical, History of Computing

Isaac, William, Eduardo and me!

For all those that don’t know, the picture I posted on Monday is of a statue in the courtyard of the British Library in London and I posted it whilst sitting inside said building. My visit was my first to … Continue reading

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Flying Visit

I shall be making a flying visit to the old country next weekend for a gathering of the clan. I shall be in London for the day on Monday 2nd August should any reader of this blog be interested in … Continue reading

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A death in the community

I’m a very minor part of the German history of astronomy community one of whose leading lights was the Augsburger amateur (in the best sense) historian Inge Keil who established her reputation with her volume on the life and work … Continue reading

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Filed under Autobiographical, History of Astronomy

Now we are one.

On the 11th of June one year ago The Renaissance Mathematicus dipped his paw, for the first time, into the gaping depths of cyberspace. If somebody had told me even 15 months ago that I would be capable of keeping … Continue reading

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