Trilemmas are everywhere. Defined as either a forced single choice among three unfavorable options or a two-out-of-three-only choice among favorable options, trilemmas involve trade-offs. The latter, ...

You might be surprised to learn that you can’t comb the hairs flat on a coconut without creating a cowlick. Perhaps even more surprising, this silly claim with an even sillier name, the “hairy ball ...

This article is from Proof Positive, our friendly math newsletter that’s delivered to your inbox every Tuesday afternoon. Sign up today and read it first. Is math to blame for bad hair days? Before I ...