Paraboloids and The Building which Set Things on Fire

2016-02-16

[public] 482K views, 16.3K likes, 104 dislikes audio only

The building in London at 20 Fenchurch Street started to set things on fire! But it could have been worse. I use a paraboloid to set other things on fire.

Oh, and there's a maths proof.

News stories about the concave building:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2786723/London-skyscraper-Walkie-Talkie-melted-cars-reflecting-sunlight-fitted-shading.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23930675

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/walkie-talkie-skyscraper-to-be-fitted-with-permanent-sunshade-after-it-melted-cars-9379037.html

Festival of the Spoken Nerd:

http://festivalofthespokennerd.com/

Play with the Geogebra parabola demonstration:

http://www.geogebra.org/material/show/id/189498

Music by Howard Carter

Design by Simon Wright

MATT PARKER: Stand-up Mathematician

Website: http://standupmaths.com/

Book: http://makeanddo4D.com/

Nerdy maths toys: http://mathsgear.co.uk/