Today, it can seem that we are adrift in a swirling sea of claims and counterclaims designed to prod and provoke. So, how can a person make sense of this barrage of information? According to the this week’s guest, a good grasp of some fundamental mathematical principles can make a huge difference when it comes to understanding the world around us.

In this episode of the Physics World Weekly podcast, the mathematical biologist and author Kit Yates is in conversation with the science and technology journalist Anna Demming. As well as talking about the mathematics of daily life, they chat about Yates’ contributions to the public understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and his latest book – which Demming has reviewed for Physics World.