Dr Tom Crawford
@tomrocksmaths.bsky.social
Mathematician at Oxford and Cambridge. 225,000 on YouTube. Numberphile. Tom Rocks Maths. Countdown.
Are you even a tourist in Sri Lanka if you don’t take the train ride across the mountains to Ella? Simply breathtaking.
It took 7 hours and 20 minutes to travel from Nanu Oya to Colombo at an average speed of 28 kmph. How long is the railway?
Try it without a calculator for a challenge :)
It took 7 hours and 20 minutes to travel from Nanu Oya to Colombo at an average speed of 28 kmph. How long is the railway?
Try it without a calculator for a challenge :)
November 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Are you even a tourist in Sri Lanka if you don’t take the train ride across the mountains to Ella? Simply breathtaking.
It took 7 hours and 20 minutes to travel from Nanu Oya to Colombo at an average speed of 28 kmph. How long is the railway?
Try it without a calculator for a challenge :)
It took 7 hours and 20 minutes to travel from Nanu Oya to Colombo at an average speed of 28 kmph. How long is the railway?
Try it without a calculator for a challenge :)
Loved catching up with Prof. Alison Martingano and talking about how to overcome maths anxiety on the Psychology & Stuff podcast at UWGB. We went to the same high school but hadn't seen each other in 20 years... amazing to reconnect after all this time!
Listen here: soundcloud.com/rycmart/ep-1...
Listen here: soundcloud.com/rycmart/ep-1...
November 9, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Loved catching up with Prof. Alison Martingano and talking about how to overcome maths anxiety on the Psychology & Stuff podcast at UWGB. We went to the same high school but hadn't seen each other in 20 years... amazing to reconnect after all this time!
Listen here: soundcloud.com/rycmart/ep-1...
Listen here: soundcloud.com/rycmart/ep-1...
Linguistic Fossils take the win over the Birthday Problem - well done again to @susiedent.com
Keep a lookout for a full video explaining the Birthday Problem and 23 - coming soon :)
In the meantime you can catch up on all 11 rounds of "Numbers vs Words" so far here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jev...
Keep a lookout for a full video explaining the Birthday Problem and 23 - coming soon :)
In the meantime you can catch up on all 11 rounds of "Numbers vs Words" so far here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jev...
November 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Linguistic Fossils take the win over the Birthday Problem - well done again to @susiedent.com
Keep a lookout for a full video explaining the Birthday Problem and 23 - coming soon :)
In the meantime you can catch up on all 11 rounds of "Numbers vs Words" so far here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jev...
Keep a lookout for a full video explaining the Birthday Problem and 23 - coming soon :)
In the meantime you can catch up on all 11 rounds of "Numbers vs Words" so far here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jev...
Fascinating conversations with some of the greatest minds in Mathematics and Physics at the HKLF - what a couple of days it's been!
1. Reinhard Genzel (2008 Shaw Prize & 2020 Nobel Prize)
2. Nigel J Hitchin (2016 Shaw Prize)
3. John Peacock (2014 Shaw Prize)
4. Simon D M White (2017 Shaw Prize)
1. Reinhard Genzel (2008 Shaw Prize & 2020 Nobel Prize)
2. Nigel J Hitchin (2016 Shaw Prize)
3. John Peacock (2014 Shaw Prize)
4. Simon D M White (2017 Shaw Prize)
November 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Fascinating conversations with some of the greatest minds in Mathematics and Physics at the HKLF - what a couple of days it's been!
1. Reinhard Genzel (2008 Shaw Prize & 2020 Nobel Prize)
2. Nigel J Hitchin (2016 Shaw Prize)
3. John Peacock (2014 Shaw Prize)
4. Simon D M White (2017 Shaw Prize)
1. Reinhard Genzel (2008 Shaw Prize & 2020 Nobel Prize)
2. Nigel J Hitchin (2016 Shaw Prize)
3. John Peacock (2014 Shaw Prize)
4. Simon D M White (2017 Shaw Prize)
Back at the Hong Kong Laureate Forum to interview 4 Shaw Laureates over the next few days. Love visiting this city, especially the harbour - just look at that skyline <3
With a population of 7.5 million and occupied apartment space of 112.5 million m2, how big is the average apartment per person?
With a population of 7.5 million and occupied apartment space of 112.5 million m2, how big is the average apartment per person?
November 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Back at the Hong Kong Laureate Forum to interview 4 Shaw Laureates over the next few days. Love visiting this city, especially the harbour - just look at that skyline <3
With a population of 7.5 million and occupied apartment space of 112.5 million m2, how big is the average apartment per person?
With a population of 7.5 million and occupied apartment space of 112.5 million m2, how big is the average apartment per person?
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. An ancient rock fortress built in the 5th Century. The hydrodynamic system connecting the water gardens is phenomenal, not to mention the lions paw, and views at the top of the 1200 steps. If I climb 90 steps per minute, how long does it take me to get to the top?
November 4, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. An ancient rock fortress built in the 5th Century. The hydrodynamic system connecting the water gardens is phenomenal, not to mention the lions paw, and views at the top of the 1200 steps. If I climb 90 steps per minute, how long does it take me to get to the top?
Dambulla Cave Temple - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The temple dates back over 2000 years and contains painted murals over an area of 2100 square metres. The largest cave has dimensions of approximately 50m x 20m x 3m, so can it all be painted?
November 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Dambulla Cave Temple - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The temple dates back over 2000 years and contains painted murals over an area of 2100 square metres. The largest cave has dimensions of approximately 50m x 20m x 3m, so can it all be painted?
Making new friends at Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka. A 2008 study by the University of Tokyo showed elephants are capable of adding together small numbers by counting apples and selecting the bucket with more in. I knew there was a reason they are my favourite animal <3
November 2, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Making new friends at Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka. A 2008 study by the University of Tokyo showed elephants are capable of adding together small numbers by counting apples and selecting the bucket with more in. I knew there was a reason they are my favourite animal <3
Hello Sri Lanka! Had a lot of fun exploring Colombo and seeing the sights. The mix of architectural styles from colonial Portuguese, Dutch and British, alongside buildings influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, plus modern skyscrapers, really is spectacular. Any other influences I’m missing?
November 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Hello Sri Lanka! Had a lot of fun exploring Colombo and seeing the sights. The mix of architectural styles from colonial Portuguese, Dutch and British, alongside buildings influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, plus modern skyscrapers, really is spectacular. Any other influences I’m missing?
Happy Halloween Maths Fans!! I promise only to haunt your dreams with scary mathematical puzzles… Can you work out which one is me in each photo?
October 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Happy Halloween Maths Fans!! I promise only to haunt your dreams with scary mathematical puzzles… Can you work out which one is me in each photo?
Very excited to announce we will be running the Vice-Chancellor's Colloquium on Climate for a third successive year @ox.ac.uk, including some maths sessions from yours truly.
Open to all current Oxford undergraduates - register your interest here: lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/about/the-vi...
Open to all current Oxford undergraduates - register your interest here: lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/about/the-vi...
October 29, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Very excited to announce we will be running the Vice-Chancellor's Colloquium on Climate for a third successive year @ox.ac.uk, including some maths sessions from yours truly.
Open to all current Oxford undergraduates - register your interest here: lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/about/the-vi...
Open to all current Oxford undergraduates - register your interest here: lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/about/the-vi...
Some highlights from my Comedy Show at the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival on Sunday evening. Award-winning research has never looked so ridiculous! Thanks to everyone that came along for laughing at my jokes… even the bad ones.
October 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Some highlights from my Comedy Show at the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival on Sunday evening. Award-winning research has never looked so ridiculous! Thanks to everyone that came along for laughing at my jokes… even the bad ones.
According ot these lovely shots from the @cs50.harvard.edu Puzzle Day, I must be hilarious. Which is good news, as I'm doing a comedy show at the Oxford Bullingdon this Sunday (26/10) delving into the world of "award-winning research". Come along if you're free and hopefully learn a thing or two :)
October 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
According ot these lovely shots from the @cs50.harvard.edu Puzzle Day, I must be hilarious. Which is good news, as I'm doing a comedy show at the Oxford Bullingdon this Sunday (26/10) delving into the world of "award-winning research". Come along if you're free and hopefully learn a thing or two :)
Having a blast in Belfast! The perfect way to end my tour of Northern Ireland for Maths Week. Thanks to PWC and Queen’s University Belfast for hosting in such spectacular venues - until next time :)
October 23, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Having a blast in Belfast! The perfect way to end my tour of Northern Ireland for Maths Week. Thanks to PWC and Queen’s University Belfast for hosting in such spectacular venues - until next time :)
LOOK AT THAT VIEW. The library tower at St Edmund Hall is the perfect place to spend an afternoon writing about Pokemon battles for my upcoming book on Fantasy Mathematics. What are your favourite type matchups from the games?
October 22, 2025 at 6:54 PM
LOOK AT THAT VIEW. The library tower at St Edmund Hall is the perfect place to spend an afternoon writing about Pokemon battles for my upcoming book on Fantasy Mathematics. What are your favourite type matchups from the games?
After 10 rounds and the first set of videos, Words and @susiedent.com retain the lead at 6-4 with a victory for 'thing' over the amicable 220.
Fortunately for Numbers, we've recorded 10 more, so the competition is very much still on. And this time, we're bringing the A-team... Round 11 coming soon!
Fortunately for Numbers, we've recorded 10 more, so the competition is very much still on. And this time, we're bringing the A-team... Round 11 coming soon!
October 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
After 10 rounds and the first set of videos, Words and @susiedent.com retain the lead at 6-4 with a victory for 'thing' over the amicable 220.
Fortunately for Numbers, we've recorded 10 more, so the competition is very much still on. And this time, we're bringing the A-team... Round 11 coming soon!
Fortunately for Numbers, we've recorded 10 more, so the competition is very much still on. And this time, we're bringing the A-team... Round 11 coming soon!
Thank you to everyone for coming along to the first-ever performance of my new talk “How To Insure A Hobbit” at New Scientist Live. From random walks through Moria to the unexpected hanging paradox, the maths of life insurance has never been so fun!
October 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Thank you to everyone for coming along to the first-ever performance of my new talk “How To Insure A Hobbit” at New Scientist Live. From random walks through Moria to the unexpected hanging paradox, the maths of life insurance has never been so fun!
Another fantastic day visiting schools across Northern Ireland for Maths Week. Let’s see how much plastic we can remove from local rivers by working together - and using maths to guide us :)
October 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Another fantastic day visiting schools across Northern Ireland for Maths Week. Let’s see how much plastic we can remove from local rivers by working together - and using maths to guide us :)
Having a blast in Northern Ireland for Maths Week - and what a venue at Derry Guildhall! 450 students and 3 Peace Prizes. The scenery in nearby Sperrin was also beautiful, if a little cloudy… I love being able to visit new places and share the enjoyment of maths :)
October 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Having a blast in Northern Ireland for Maths Week - and what a venue at Derry Guildhall! 450 students and 3 Peace Prizes. The scenery in nearby Sperrin was also beautiful, if a little cloudy… I love being able to visit new places and share the enjoyment of maths :)
An absolute honour to be admitted as a Fellow at Robinson College last night. Thank you to everyone at Robinson for seeing the value in my work, and for making me feel so welcome at the University of Cambridge. I can’t wait to see what amazing things we can achieve together!
October 15, 2025 at 12:27 PM
An absolute honour to be admitted as a Fellow at Robinson College last night. Thank you to everyone at Robinson for seeing the value in my work, and for making me feel so welcome at the University of Cambridge. I can’t wait to see what amazing things we can achieve together!
A sneak peek of a photoshoot from earlier this week with @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social - any idea what we are doing?
October 11, 2025 at 8:12 PM
A sneak peek of a photoshoot from earlier this week with @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social - any idea what we are doing?
My favourite way to spend a Friday evening - solving puzzles with friends at CS50 and Meta. Thank you to everyone for coming to the first CS50 UK Puzzle Day and to Meta London for hosting :)
October 10, 2025 at 8:12 PM
My favourite way to spend a Friday evening - solving puzzles with friends at CS50 and Meta. Thank you to everyone for coming to the first CS50 UK Puzzle Day and to Meta London for hosting :)
You all loved SMILE = 1,913,091,205 this time around helping Numbers pull one back against Words. Latest scores are now @tomrocksmaths.bsky.social / Numbers 4 - 5 Words / @susiedent.com. It’s getting close again so make sure you vote for your favourite in round 10, coming soon!!
October 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
You all loved SMILE = 1,913,091,205 this time around helping Numbers pull one back against Words. Latest scores are now @tomrocksmaths.bsky.social / Numbers 4 - 5 Words / @susiedent.com. It’s getting close again so make sure you vote for your favourite in round 10, coming soon!!
Graduate Dinner 2025 at St Edmund Hall with pre-dinner drinks in the college library (a converted church). A warm welcome to the University of Oxford to all Masters and PhD students - may your years here be enjoyable, academic, and of course as full of maths as possible!
October 8, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Graduate Dinner 2025 at St Edmund Hall with pre-dinner drinks in the college library (a converted church). A warm welcome to the University of Oxford to all Masters and PhD students - may your years here be enjoyable, academic, and of course as full of maths as possible!
Such an incredible day at King’s School Macclesfield meeting all of the amazing students / future mathematicians. We talked Sports and Shapes with year 6, 7 and 8; the Maths of Pokémon with years 10 and 11; and Ocean Pollution with years 12 and 13. I hope you all had as much fun as I did!!
October 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Such an incredible day at King’s School Macclesfield meeting all of the amazing students / future mathematicians. We talked Sports and Shapes with year 6, 7 and 8; the Maths of Pokémon with years 10 and 11; and Ocean Pollution with years 12 and 13. I hope you all had as much fun as I did!!