They say the only constant in life is change. In mathematics, however, there are many constants and today, we"re celebrating perhaps the most famous of them all: pi. This tasty-sounding constant is the ratio of a circle"s circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159. Every March 14, mathematics fans across the world get baking to mark Pi Day—a celebration of both the mathematical constant π and its delicious homophone, pie. It began in 1988, when physicist Larry Shaw connected the date (3/14) with the first three digits of this constant. Today, mathematicians and enthusiasts celebrate Pi Day with pie eating and pi reciting. Did you know that when your clock strikes 1:59 today, you will be three decimal places closer to the real value of pi? Pi is everywhere, even in nature. Pictured here is a bodhi tree in the shape of the pi symbol at Wat Phra Ngam, a temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Whether you"re a math geek or just in it for the treats, Pi Day is for everyone to enjoy!
Happy Pi Day!
Today in History
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Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
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International Dark Sky Week
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A cuddling pair of Taiwan yuhina
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International Polar Bear Day
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Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
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American bison, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
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Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
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Snæfellsnes, Iceland
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Misty mountain hop
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A wave of remembrance
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
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A show of prehistoric hands
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The other great barrier reef
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King of the jungle? Nope
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How can we help at-risk animals?
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An underwater paradise
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Kingfisher
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Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California, United States
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World Art Day
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Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Ireland
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A day for giving
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Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
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A salty situation
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The road less taken?
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World Turtle Day
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Nature at its colourful best
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The sprout with amazing potential
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Rocky Mountain run-off
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Skiddaw, Lake District National Park
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Songkran—Thai New Year