Slowly, over the generations, cultures adapt to the conditions they face, but year on year we mostly do what we’re used to.

And so it is that among the hundreds of mathematicians here in Oxford’s Andrew Wiles building, there are two who habitually wear short trousers, even in the winter.  Both of these young men get plenty of good-natured kidding on the subject of their dress habits.  Maybe you guess that Cameron and Anthony are from Iceland or northern Russia, finding Britain balmy in comparison?  Of course the truth is just the opposite.  One of them is from sun-baked Queensland, and the other from steamy Texas.

[10 December 2013]