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“Physics professors have a harder time believing in God since their job is to study creation. Mathematicians can be more relaxed.”

Michael Atiyah, former head of the UK’s Royal Society, at a meeting of top mathematicians in Rome, Italy, aimed at putting maths back on its pedestal with architecture, music and aesthetics (The Observer, London, March 18)

“They should work like a Kalashnikov. Reliable in anybody’s hands.”

Russian businessman Anfis Saibakov, who formed a company called Ekomotor to make and market petrol-powered footwear, expressing his disappointment that the boots are not safe (The New York Times, 17 March)

“It’s not the American way. And it’s not…

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