Author: Alex Florea
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Ulam Spiral: Patterns in the Primes
July 6, 2023 · 6 min read “The mathematician’s patterns, like the painter’s or the poet’s must be beautiful; the ideas, like the colours or the words must fit together in a harmonious way. Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in the world for ugly mathematics.” G. H. Hardy Introduction Prime…
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Chemistry and The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
June 7, 2023 · 4 min read The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic states that any positive integer greater than 1 can be expressed as a product of prime numbers and that this product is unique. A prime number is any number that is divisible only by 1 and itself. For example, the first few primes…
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Embracing Failure
May 25, 2023 · 3 min read Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about failure. I’ve been thinking about all the poor exams or projects I’ve submitted, all the people I’ve let down, and all the things I said I’d do but didn’t. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about failing as it pertains to achievement, such…
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Dune
Frank Herbert Review May 18, 2023 · 5 min read “He who controls the spice controls the universe.” – Frank Herbert, Dune 🏜 Review Dune was one of those books that once I started, I couldn’t stop myself from reading more. I’m currently through the third book in this science fiction saga and, at this…
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Mary Oliver Poems
Mary Oliver Review May 11, 2023 · 2 min read I really enjoyed this collection of poems. They are comforting and calming, and best enjoyed during a relaxing late night read, or outdoors while listening to birds chirping. Oliver’s style is introspective and draws heavily from her lived experiences and the natural world. Many of…
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ChatGPT Tries April Fools’ Day
Apr 1, 2023 · 3 min read Click here for author’s note Hi ChatGPT Hello there! As a language model, I don’t typically engage in pranks or jokes, but for April Fools’ Day, I’ll make an exception! In this blog post, I’ll share some information about the history and traditions of April Fools’ Day, but…
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On the Shortness of a Day
Mar 31, 2023 · 7 min read Life is Short “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. Life is long enough, and a sufficiently generous amount has been given to us for the highest achievements if it were all well invested. But when…
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Going Full Goggins
Mar 9, 2023 · 7 min read Introduction Every Monday, between 5-6 PM, I drive down to the local gym prepared to run. I dread those days. I can’t say why, but every time I hop out of my car, water bottle in hand, I get knots in my stomach. There’s a voice in my…
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Dopamine Nation
Anna Lembke Summary, Analysis, Notes Feb 17, 2023 · 8 min read 🤔 Impressions: What an insightful and eye-opening read! This book discusses topics such as over-consumption, the pain/pleasure balance, and strategies to break addiction. I recommend this book to anybody who is unhappy with their current consumption or addictive behaviors. It certainly inspired me…
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Making Platonic Solids Out of Paper
Feb 11, 2023 · 4 min read The Wager That Started it All A few months ago I was eating lunch with some friends when I wagered, “Do you think you could find the center of the base of this glass with nothing but a pencil and paper?” A little friendly competition then broke out.…
