Dear Plus readers

Santa's mixed up his presents...an early Season's Greetings to Plus
readers everywhere with the festive puzzle in Issue 22 of Plus
<http://plus.maths.org>, out today!

You can read what mathematicians have to say about aesthetics in our
article on the Golden Ratio, and get in a spin with the science of the
very small. And find out in our career interview how mathematicians are on
the frontline in the battle to stop a repeat of the thalidomide tragedy.

Here's some news that counts. A new series of BBC Radio 4's "More or
Less" - the show about all things numerate - starts next Tuesday at 4pm.
Plus features an article by presenter Andrew Dilnot.

As always, there's lots lots more to enjoy. Happy reading from the Plus
team!

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In the next issue of Plus, due out in January, we'll be running an article
by Oliver Johnson on data compression. Olly is speaking on the same topic
at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Clarkson Road, Cambridge, on
Thursday 28th November at 5pm - the talk is entitled "Text, Bytes and
Videotape: how to save space and correct your mistakes". Tickets are
free but must be booked in advance. You can find out more at
<http://www.mmp.maths.org/events/lecturelist.html> - come along if you
can!

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Helen Joyce, Editor of Plus