What’s hot and what’s not, Issue 21

Fashion is fleeting, Chalkdust regulars are not.

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Maths is a fickle world. Stay à la mode with our guide to the latest trends.

HOT Releasing things in two parts

Dune and Wicked both show us that the real trick for writing is to set up your problem really well, then leave the reader hanging for a year.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Image: Our Movie Guide, CC BY 3.0

NOT Cramming your research into one long paper

The first half is necessary and sufficient to get it nominated for a bunch of awards. And no one’s going to sit through a six-hour proof without needing the loo, anyway.

HOT 90s reunions

Oasis and 5ive leading the charge. Expect Andrew Wiles to re-prove Fermat’s last theorem on his UK arenas tour this summer.

Oasis

Image: Will Fresch, CC BY-SA 2.0

NOT Anything 2025

Can we just hide from the news?

HOT MathTok

Function dances, pretty notetaking and Howie Hua. If it encourages anyone to improve their handwriting, mathematics will be in a better place.

NOT BookTok

Like MagazineTok but longer, in black & white, and without fun features like this.

HOT Glambots

Fast-shutter slo-mo videos for the red carpet, but also available to capture the exact moment you realise you missed a minus sign two pages back.

NOT Spambots

Dear Surname, First Name Initial. You are invited to a…

HOT Potatoes

Better for frying, but OK at flying.

NOT Prime Target

Everyone secretly hoping they’re on the Americans’ list of ‘European mathematicians who might find a deadly prime number’. There are better things to watch on Apple TV+.

HOT Slow Horses

Series 5 is based on the best book.

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