The Aperiodical

Mathematical Objects: A Norbert Wiener Story

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a piece of folklore. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Certified Mathematical Object sticker with Chris Nho

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics and communicating mathematics inspired by a ‘Certified Mathematical Object’ sticker. Presented by Katie Steckles ...

Mathematical Objects: A taxicab

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a taxicab. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Venn diagram with Keisha Thompson

02 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Venn diagram. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Keisha Thompson. Katie ...

Mathematical Objects: Slice of pizza

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a slice of pizza. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Cardioid with Dominika Vasilkova

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a light pattern in a tea cup. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Dominika ...

Mathematical Objects: Roman dodecahedron

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics, history, games and more, inspired by a Roman dodecahedron. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: 3D wooden puzzle with Grant Sanderson

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a 3D wooden puzzle. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Grant Sanderson.

Mathematical Objects: Universe of cake

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Game of Logic. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: An object with Tai-Danae Bradley

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by … an object. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Tai-Danae Bradley. Katie...

Mathematical Objects: Borges’ Library of Babel

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about infinity inspired by The Library of Babel by Jorge Luis Borges. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Parallelepiped with Ayliean MacDonald

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a very special parallelepiped. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Ayliean.

Mathematical Objects: An area the size of Wales

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by an area the size of Wales. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: A ballot with Sam Hansen

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about election mathematics inspired by a ballot. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Sam Hansen. For more...

Mathematical Objects: Space-filling curves

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a space-filling curve. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Low bridge sign with Adam Townsend

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a low bridge sign. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Adam Townsend. The p...

Mathematical Objects: Post-season 7 update

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A short update from Katie and Peter.

Mathematical Objects: Mathematics in Theory and Practice, edited by Warwick Sawyer

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by an old textbook, Mathematics in Theory and Practice, edited by Warwick Sawyer. Presented by Katie Steckle...

Mathematical Objects: Scone with Sophie Maclean

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a scone. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Sophie Maclean.

Mathematical Objects: Joukowsky aerofoil

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the Joukowsky aerofoil. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Guitar with Sam Hartburn

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a guitar. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Sam Hartburn.

Mathematical Objects: On-Sets

14 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a 1960s game designed to teach set theory. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. On-Sets: A Vint...

Mathematical Objects: A book with Sarah Hart

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics and literature inspired by a book. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett with special guest Sarah Hart, autho...

Mathematical Objects: Battenberg cake

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Battenberg cake. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Aperiodic monotile with Chaim Goodman-Strauss

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the new aperiodic monotile. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Chaim Goodm...

Mathematical Objects: Fingers with Ben Orlin

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by some fingers. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Ben Orlin. Ben’s new bo...

Mathematical Objects: Quarto

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the game Quarto. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Slinky

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a slinky. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Nodal cubic with Angela Tabiri

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the nodal cubic. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. We go closer to the cutting edge of resea...

Mathematical Objects: PageRank

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the PageRank algorithm. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: A joke with Bec Hill

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a joke. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Bec Hill.

Mathematical Objects: Hairy ball

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a hairy ball. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Superegg with Hannah Fry

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a superegg. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Hannah Fry.

Mathematical Objects: A sheep, at least one side of which is black

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematical jokes, humour and folklore inspired by a sheep, at least one side of which is black. Presented by Katie Steckles and...

Mathematical Objects: Plate of biscuits with Alison Kiddle

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a plate of biscuits. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Alison Kiddle. Wha...

Mathematical Objects: Spirograph

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Spirograph set. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. Katie’s Spirograph GeoGebra file.

Mathematical Objects: Balancing bird with Alom Shaha

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a balancing bird. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Alom Shaha. Alom’s ...

Mathematical Objects: UUID 0412a969-5b27-4c28-9662-85ef2c201e0c

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by UUID 0412a969-5b27-4c28-9662-85ef2c201e0c. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Auctioneer’s Hammer with Tim Harford

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by an auctioneer’s hammer. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Tim Harford.

Mathematical Objects: Dobble

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by cards from the game Dobble. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. You can read more about Katie’...

Mathematical Objects: Arbelos with Catriona Agg

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by an arbelos. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Catriona Agg. Catriona ment...

Mathematical Objects: Christmas crackers

25 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a box of Christmas crackers. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. Merry Christmas!

Mathematical Objects: Enigma machine with Tom Briggs

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by an Enigma machine. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Tom Briggs.

Mathematical Objects: Solids of constant width

27 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by some solids of constant width. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Ball of wool with Pat Ashforth

13 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a ball of wool (yarn). Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Pat Ashforth.

Mathematical Objects: Lottery machine

30 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a lottery machine. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Klein bottle with Matthew Scroggs

16 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Klein bottle and Mathsteroids. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Matthe...

Mathematical Objects: A hat

02 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a hat. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Hundred square with Susan Okereke

18 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics and education inspired by a hundred square. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Susan O...

Mathematical Objects: Twenty Pence coin

28 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Twenty Pence coin. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: A vehicle with Christopher Danielson

14 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a vehicle. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Christopher Danielson.

Mathematical Objects: Möbius band

31 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Möbius band. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Mandala with Hana Ayoob

17 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a mandala. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest Hana Ayoob.

Mathematical Objects: Acoustic mirrors with James Grime

03 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by acoustic mirrors. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special guest James Grime. Image: W...

Mathematical Objects: Number block cubes

19 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by number block cubes/snap cubes. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. Peter’s blog post: Mathem...

Mathematical Objects: Rubik’s Cube

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Rubik’s Cube. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: D&D Dice

22 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a set of D&D dice. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Season 3 ‘trailer’

12 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Katie and Peter give a little update on the podcast, life in lockdown and the upcoming season/series 3.

Mathematical Objects: Robot caterpillar

28 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about combinatorics, the mathematics of counting, inspired by a robot caterpillar. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Pencil

14 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about the mathematics of chemistry inspired by a pencil, plus a chat about approximation. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett...

Mathematical Objects: Romanesco Broccoli

31 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics including fractals inspired by a Romanesco Broccoli. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, idea suggested by...

Mathematical Objects: A deck of Set cards

17 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a deck of Set cards. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. We mentioned‬ an implementation of ...

Mathematical Objects: Ox Blocks

20 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the game Ox Blocks. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Correntator with Christian Lawson-Perfect

06 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Correntator, a mechanical adding machine. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, with special g...

Mathematical Objects: Pseudorhombicuboctahedron

22 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the pseudorhombicuboctahedron. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: A pair of skipping ropes

08 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a pair of skipping ropes. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Thermometer

05 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a thermometer. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Noughts and Crosses (Tic Tac Toe) board

21 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a Noughts and Crosses (Tic Tac Toe) board, covering Noughts and Crosses, a surprising number of variants,...

Mathematical Objects: Tangerine

07 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a tangerine (no, really!). Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Pile of matchsticks

24 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a pile of matchsticks. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Tantrix Tiles, Beaded Necklaces and Juggling Balls with Alex Corner

10 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a set of Tantrix tiles, a beaded necklace and some juggling balls. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter ...

Mathematical Objects: Stick of Chalk

26 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a stick of chalk. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Pythagoras T-shirt

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by a t-shirt featuring Pythagoras’ theorem. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett.

Mathematical Objects: Towers of Hanoi

29 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about mathematics inspired by the Towers of Hanoi puzzle. Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett. Update: Here’s a lovely knit...

Mathematical Objects: Introduction

09 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Presented by Katie Steckles and Peter Rowlett, episodes of Mathematical Objects will take an object, real or abstract, as inspiration to chat about a ...

Apéryodical: Mini-podcast with Ben Sparks and James Grime

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

As part of our special Apéry takeover today, I chatted to mathematicians Ben Sparks and James Grime, to find out what we know about the mathematics A...

CP and Cushing take the National Numeracy Challenge

06 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Cushing was injured in a serious maths accident recently (he fell out of the bath) so I wanted to assess the damage to his number-wrangling facultie...

All Squared, Number 11 – Maths Jam

14 Jan 2014

Contributed by Lukas

MathsJam is an annual conference in the UK, and a monthly night in pubs around the world, organised respectively by mathematician and juggler Colin Wr...

Cushing and CP’s Random Talks, number 1

26 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

David and I sat down again and talked about maths a bit more. I’m calling this number 1 because it suits both our counting systems: David can call t...

Aperiodcast – MathsJam 2013!

16 Nov 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We haven’t done one of these for absolutely ages. Since all three of us were at the big MathsJam conference a couple of weekends ago, we decided to ...

All Squared, Number 10: Maths journalism

31 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Evelyn Lamb is a professional mathematician who has taken up journalism on the side. She received the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship last year, and spent...

All Squared, Number 9: Miscellanea with CP and Cushing

14 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We have an unusual All Squared podcast for you this time. My good friend David Cushing has been asking to do a podcast for absolutely ages. We couldn...

All Squared, Number 8: Martin Gardner (Colm Mulcahy part 2)

06 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second and final part of our interview with Colm Mulcahy. Last week we talked about card magic; in this part we moved on to the subject of...

All Squared, Number 7: Card Magic (Colm Mulcahy part 1)

29 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Colm Mulcahy is an original Aperiodical contributor (Aperiodicontributor?) and friend of the site. He’s spent the last year and a bit writing his ne...

All Squared, Number 6: Favourite maths books (part 2)

18 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

This number of the All Squared podcast contains the final third of our interview with the inestimable David Singmaster, and then a bit from CP about h...

All Squared, Number 5: Favourite maths books (part 1)

11 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Good maths books are simultaneously plentiful and rare. While there are a few classics almost everyone knows about and has copies of (Gardner, Hardy, ...

All Squared, Number 4: How interesting!

09 Apr 2013

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a repeat booking for the Festival of the Spoken Nerd in number 4 (or 16 if you belong to Team All Squared) of our podcast. Standup mathematicia...

All Squared, Number 3: As Easy As…

14 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Remember, remember, The fourteenth of March. While the previous number of All Squared failed to achieve topicality by appearing several weeks after t...

All Squared, Number 2 – Pancake formula

05 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s the second edition of our new podcast, All Squared. This time we talked to Dr Andrew Taylor, PhD, about nonsense formulas in the news. In pa...

All Squared, Number 1: Maths out loud

24 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been quietly making plans and gathering material for a new project over the past couple of weeks, after noticing that there’s an unusual pau...

Aperiodcast – 11/02/2013

13 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Two days late, because that is the way we rotate here, it’s another episode of our sporadic navel-gazing podcast. In this episode we talked about: O...

Aperiodcast – Christiansmas Eve 2013

13 Jan 2013

Contributed by Lukas

After two months we’ve finally done another podcast! We completely forgot even the most rudimentary things about how to do a podcast. Sorry. In this...

Aperiodcast – MathsJam 2012!

20 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

We took the opportunity of us all being in the same small slice of space and time (MathsJam, last weekend) to record another episode of our continuing...

Aperiodcast – 21/10/2012

21 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s another episode of our irregular podcast about what’s been happening on the site. This time, we talked about: Advances in pure nonsense Rob...

Aperiodcast – 09/09/2012

09 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Leaves are falling, a chilly wind is blowing and I can hear the distant thunder of undergrads’ hooves as they stampede towards my department. Yes, S...

Aperiodcast – 29/07/2012

29 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s the fifth Aperiodcast, covering what’s happened on the site basically since the start of Summer. Peter is busy doing work, so it was just K...

Aperiodcast – 21/06/2012

21 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s another Aperiodcast, covering things that happened on the site between the 4th and the 20th of June. Posts discussed in this episode Ask a ma...

Aperiodcast – 3/6/2012

07 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

After an unexpectedly long wait of over three weeks, here’s the third Aperiodcast, discussing what’s happened on the site between 13/5/2012 and 3/...

Aperiodcast – 13/5/2012

14 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In true Aperiodical fashion, we left 13 days before recording another Aperiodcast, so here’s what we think about the last almost-two-weeks on the si...

The Aperiodcast – week of 23/4/2012

30 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s the very first edition of what we’ve cleverly decided to call The Aperiodcast. The plan is to record a short podcast every week or week-and...