Take in Mind - Page 8 of 13 - Science for the curious. Popular science for people who love riddles, mysteries, culture and non-standard thinking

Alice Through the Math-Glass

September 7, 2020 By Samyon Ristov

Have you ever wondered what lies upon the other side of a mirror? And another question: If there is another world beyond the mirror, howRead More

I Want Borscht!

August 29, 2020 By Leonid Livshits

Good day, dear Take in Mind readers! Many thanks to everyone who responded to our initiative of creating a folk collection of mankind’s masterpieces, theRead More

Epic of Gilgamesh – Part IV

August 25, 2020 By Administrator

Tablet V Then they crossed the moat, that surrounds the cedar forest, and entered under the canopy of trees. Everything is quiet around. Humbaba sneakedRead More

The Sixth Sense – Magnetism

August 18, 2020 By Samyon Ristov

Since I remember myself, I’m fascinated with senses: What can we sense, what will happen if I’ll concentrate – how many surrounding sounds will IRead More

Is our ecosystem the entire Universe?

July 30, 2020 By Dmitri Burshtyn

Hello, dear Take in Mind readers. Here is a question: How big is the ecosystem in which we live? Can we define the boundary andRead More

Bedouin Magic: Cold Watermelon

July 21, 2020 By Leonid Livshits

Good day, dear Take in Mind readers! Over the past few weeks, we have been studying together about the “magical” abilities of the ancient VikingsRead More

The Wheel of Spirits

July 16, 2020 By Administrator

Dear readers! The Middle East is full of fascinating archaeological locations, and recently we shared news about the amazing architectural complex of Göbekli Tepe. ThisRead More

Asimov’s Game

July 8, 2020 By Leonid Livshits

Good day to you, dear TakeinMind readers! You will not believe what an incident happened to me! The only consolation is that I fell intoRead More

About the rain, Richard and the vain

July 3, 2020 By Leonid Livshits

Good day, dear Take in Mind readers! Please raise your hand if you did not memorize the magic name “Roy G. Biv” in your childhood?Read More

When a Legend Becomes Reality. Part III and final. The Polarized Sky

June 29, 2020 By Samyon Ristov

Hello brave explorers! Recently we dived into the past and discovered Vikings’ tales and magical powers, then we confronted the laws of nature, unveiling howRead More

Scientific Humor

About man’s fidelity!

…and there is another story. Once Thomas Edison’s wife told him: “Darling, you are so tired! Go somewhere, relax, have a rest, enjoy your time…” Edison listened to his wife’s wise advice, instantly packed up, and disappeared somewhere… The next day she found the inventor… in his own laboratory, where he actually spent the previous day and night, working with enthusiasm. To her surprised question, happy Edison replied: “Oh my, I’ve rested so well!”

Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was a famous American inventor and businessman

Take a look

Once upon a time, a Brahmin (sage) invented the game of chess to teach the cruel Raja (the ruler) to treat his subjects well. In that game, the “Raja” (the name of one of the chess pieces) is the head of the state. If the “Raja” is captured, then his state ceases to exist. In case of danger, the “Raja” cannot survive without his faithful defenders and assistants – other figures.

The Raja was amazed by the game, understood its meaning, and promised not to oppress his subjects in the future. He then asked the Brahmin to choose the greatest reward he may wish for. The Brahmin replied that he wants to be rewarded with… wheat, but based on the following calculation: put one grain on the first cell of the chessboard, two on the second, four on the third, eight on the fourth, etc., doubling the number of grains on each subsequent cell.

The Raja, seeing that there are only 64 cells on the board, was surprised at the insignificance of the request. He decided that it’ll take about one or two sacks of wheat to fulfill it and gave the order to issue the reward immediately. Soon, the court mathematicians reported that the Raja would have to give so many grains, for which it would be necessary to sow the entire Earth, and the grown wheat would be enough to feed the whole population of Earth for 100 years.

Of course, the Raja could not fulfill his hasty promise and received another wise lesson from the inventor of the game of chess.

— A folk tale. Retold in the book “A complete course of chess: 64 lessons for beginners and not very experienced player”s, by S.B. Gubnitsky, M.G. Khanukov, S.A. Shedey.

The photo (own work) illustrates the second part of the fable, about exponential growth. In some variations, rice is requested instead of wheat, but in the photo, Wild Rice is used. The chess pieces’ positions are not random but positioned as in one of the first known chess riddles. In fact, it’s not even a chess riddle, but a Mansuba, a Shatranj problem, composed by Abu Na’im al Khadim (9th century). Shatranj is an old form of chess, with very similar rules. The differences in the rules don’t affect the riddle. White to move, and mate in three.

An easier view of the riddle is available in the first comment. Can you solve one of the oldest chess riddles?

Image source: Own work.

Think about

A few words about imagination

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ― Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist.

The great German mathematician David Hilbert (1862–1943) noticed that one of his students had started missing his lectures. When he asked for the reason, he was told that the student had left mathematics in favor of poetry. “Ah, yes,” said Hilbert, “I always thought he didn’t have enough imagination for mathematics…”

It is strange that only extraordinary men make the discoveries, which later appear so easy and simple. Georg Lichtenberg (1742 – 1799) was a German experimental physicist.

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself.” Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was an Italian astronomer, mathematician, physicist, and philosopher.

“To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.” — Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931) was an American inventor and businessman.