An F Student

An F Student

Measuring the Complexity of the Dates of Holidays

Measuring the Complexity of the Dates of Holidays

Some national holidays -- like Fourth of July -- happen on the same day each year. Others, like Thanksgiving, which takes place the fourth Thursday in November, change from year to year. Our math blogger Samuel Arbesman looks into the different size algorithms needed to describe the dates of various national holidays.

Geekiest Place Names in the Solar System

Mount Doom, Einstein Crater, and Arrakis Plains: Geekiest Place Names in the Solar System

The solar system is full of stuffy, old mythology naming its planets and moons. But scientists have also had the chance to add a little spice here and there, deriving their place names from really geeky sources, including Tolkien. In this gallery, we take a look at some of the nerdiest places in the solar system.