2023 Pi Daylatest newsbuy art
I'm not real and I deny I won't heal unless I cry.Cocteau Twinslet it gomore quotes
very clickable
visualization + math

`\pi` Day 2018 Art Posters - Stitched city road maps from around the world


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2021 `\pi` reminds us that good things grow for those who wait.' edition.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2019 `\pi` has hundreds of digits, hundreds of languages and a special kids' edition.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2018 `\pi` day stitches street maps into new destinations.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2017 `\pi` day imagines the sky in a new way.


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2016 `\pi` approximation day wonders what would happen if about right was right.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2016 `\pi` day sees digits really fall for each other.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2015 `\pi` day maps transcendentally.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2014 `\pi` approx day spirals into roughness.


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2014 `\pi` day hypnotizes you into looking.

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2014 `\pi` day

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
2013 `\pi` day is where it started

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
Circular `\pi` art and other distractions

On March 14th celebrate `\pi` Day. Hug `\pi`—find a way to do it.

For those who favour `\tau=2\pi` will have to postpone celebrations until July 26th. That's what you get for thinking that `\pi` is wrong. I sympathize with this position and have `\tau` day art too!

If you're not into details, you may opt to party on July 22nd, which is `\pi` approximation day (`\pi` ≈ 22/7). It's 20% more accurate that the official `\pi` day!

Finally, if you believe that `\pi = 3`, you should read why `\pi` is not equal to 3.

Most of the art is available for purchase as framed prints and, yes, even pillows. Sleep's never been more important — I take custom requests.

And if you've got to sleep a moment on the road
I will steer for you
And if you want to work the street alone
I'll disappear for you
—Leonard Cohen (I'm Your Man)

This year's is the 30th anniversary of `\pi` day. The theme of the art is bridging the world and making friends. So myself I again team up with my long-time friend and collaborator Jake Lever. I worled with Jake on the snowflake catalogue, where we build a world of flakes.

And so, this year we also build a world. We start with all the roads in the world and stitch them together in brand new ways. And if you walk more than 1 km in this world, you'll likely to be transported somewhere completely different.

This year's `\pi` day song is Trance Groove: Paris. Why? Because it's worth to go to new places—real or imagined.

city strips

Amsterdam,Bangkok,Beijing,Berlin,Copenhagen,Edinburgh,Hong Kong,Johannesburg,Marrakesh and Melbourne


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 10 digits of `\pi`. City strips for Amsterdam, Bangkok, Beijing, Berlin, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Marrakesh and Melbourne. (BUY ARTWORK)

Moscow,Mumbai,Nairobi,New Delhi,Nice,Prague,Rome,Stockholm,Vancouver and Warsaw


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 10 digits of `\pi`. City strips for Moscow, Mumbai, Nairobi, New Delhi, Nice, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Vancouver and Warsaw. (BUY ARTWORK)

Barcelona,Cairo,Dublin,Lisbon,Los Angeles,New York,Paris,San Francisco,Saint Petersburg and Vienna


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 10 digits of `\pi`. City strips for Barcelona, Cairo, Dublin, Lisbon, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Saint Petersburg and Vienna. (BUY ARTWORK)

Buenos Aires,Doha,Jakarta,Madrid,Mexico City,Osaka,Sao Paolo,Shanghai,Sydney and Toronto


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 10 digits of `\pi`. City strips for Buenos Aires, Doha, Jakarta, Madrid, Mexico City, Osaka, Sao Paolo, Shanghai, Sydney and Toronto. (BUY ARTWORK)

boonies, burbs and boutiques


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
The boonies, burbs and boutiques of `\pi`. Progressively denser patches of streets from various cities smoothly progress from nowhere to somewhere. (BUY ARTWORK)

world patches

10 cities

Berlin,Cairo,Hong Kong,London,Moscow,New York,Paris,Rome,Sydney and Tokyo


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Berlin, Cairo, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rome, Sydney and Tokyo. (BUY ARTWORK)

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Berlin, Cairo, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rome, Sydney and Tokyo. (BUY ARTWORK)

Amsterdam,Copenhagen,Dublin,Istanbul,Lisbon,Madrid,Melbourne,Nice,Prague and San Francisco.


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, Istanbul, Lisbon, Madrid, Melbourne, Nice, Prague and San Francisco. (BUY ARTWORK)

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, Istanbul, Lisbon, Madrid, Melbourne, Nice, Prague and San Francisco. (BUY ARTWORK)

Amsterdam,Doha,Marrakesh,Mumbai,Nairobi,Rome,San Francisco,Seoul,Shanghai and Vancouver


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Amsterdam, Doha, Marrakesh, Mumbai, Nairobi, Rome, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai and Vancouver (BUY ARTWORK)

Dublin,Istanbul,Lisbon,Marrakesh,Osaka,Paris,Prague,Sydney,Vancouver and Vienna


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Dublin, Istanbul, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Osaka, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Vancouver and Vienna (BUY ARTWORK)

2 cities

Melbourne and Nice


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Melbourne and Nice. (BUY ARTWORK)

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Melbourne and Nice. (BUY ARTWORK)

Paris and Prague


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Paris and Prague. (BUY ARTWORK)

Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca buy artwork
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Paris and Prague. (BUY ARTWORK)

Bangkok and Sao Paolo


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Bangkok and Sao Paolo. (zoom)

Berlin and Jakarta


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Berlin and Jakarta. (zoom)

Berlin and Mumbai


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Berlin and Mumbai. (zoom)

Cairo and Istanbul


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Cairo and Istanbul. (zoom)

Cairo and Jakarta


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Cairo and Jakarta. (zoom)

Doha and Lisbon


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Doha and Lisbon. (zoom)

Dublin and Istanbul


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Dublin and Istanbul. (zoom)

Dublin and Mumbai


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Dublin and Mumbai. (zoom)

Hong Kong and Jakarta


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Hong Kong and Jakarta. (zoom)

Istanbul and Paris


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Istanbul and Paris. (zoom)

Jakarta and San Francisco


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Jakarta and San Francisco. (zoom)

Johannesburg and Marrakesh


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Johannesburg and Marrakesh. (zoom)

Johannesburg and Nice


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Johannesburg and Nice. (zoom)

Lisbon and Seoul


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Lisbon and Seoul. (zoom)

Marrakesh and New Delhi


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Marrakesh and New Delhi. (zoom)

Marrakesh and Tokyo


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Marrakesh and Tokyo. (zoom)

Mumbai and Nairobi


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Mumbai and Nairobi. (zoom)

Mumbai and Vancouver


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Mumbai and Vancouver. (zoom)

Toronto and Vienna


Pi Day 2018 Art Posters  - Stitched city road maps from around the world
 / Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
On the road with 36 digits of `\pi`. A world patch using Toronto and Vienna. (zoom)
news + thoughts

Convolutional neural networks

Thu 17-08-2023

Nature uses only the longest threads to weave her patterns, so that each small piece of her fabric reveals the organization of the entire tapestry. – Richard Feynman

Following up on our Neural network primer column, this month we explore a different kind of network architecture: a convolutional network.

The convolutional network replaces the hidden layer of a fully connected network (FCN) with one or more filters (a kind of neuron that looks at the input within a narrow window).

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
Nature Methods Points of Significance column: Convolutional neural networks. (read)

Even through convolutional networks have far fewer neurons that an FCN, they can perform substantially better for certain kinds of problems, such as sequence motif detection.

Derry, A., Krzywinski, M & Altman, N. (2023) Points of significance: Convolutional neural networks. Nature Methods 20:.

Background reading

Derry, A., Krzywinski, M. & Altman, N. (2023) Points of significance: Neural network primer. Nature Methods 20:165–167.

Lever, J., Krzywinski, M. & Altman, N. (2016) Points of significance: Logistic regression. Nature Methods 13:541–542.

Neural network primer

Tue 10-01-2023

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished. —Francis Bacon

In the first of a series of columns about neural networks, we introduce them with an intuitive approach that draws from our discussion about logistic regression.

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
Nature Methods Points of Significance column: Neural network primer. (read)

Simple neural networks are just a chain of linear regressions. And, although neural network models can get very complicated, their essence can be understood in terms of relatively basic principles.

We show how neural network components (neurons) can be arranged in the network and discuss the ideas of hidden layers. Using a simple data set we show how even a 3-neuron neural network can already model relatively complicated data patterns.

Derry, A., Krzywinski, M & Altman, N. (2023) Points of significance: Neural network primer. Nature Methods 20:165–167.

Background reading

Lever, J., Krzywinski, M. & Altman, N. (2016) Points of significance: Logistic regression. Nature Methods 13:541–542.

Cell Genomics cover

Mon 16-01-2023

Our cover on the 11 January 2023 Cell Genomics issue depicts the process of determining the parent-of-origin using differential methylation of alleles at imprinted regions (iDMRs) is imagined as a circuit.

Designed in collaboration with with Carlos Urzua.

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
Our Cell Genomics cover depicts parent-of-origin assignment as a circuit (volume 3, issue 1, 11 January 2023). (more)

Akbari, V. et al. Parent-of-origin detection and chromosome-scale haplotyping using long-read DNA methylation sequencing and Strand-seq (2023) Cell Genomics 3(1).

Browse my gallery of cover designs.

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
A catalogue of my journal and magazine cover designs. (more)

Science Advances cover

Thu 05-01-2023

My cover design on the 6 January 2023 Science Advances issue depicts DNA sequencing read translation in high-dimensional space. The image showss 672 bases of sequencing barcodes generated by three different single-cell RNA sequencing platforms were encoded as oriented triangles on the faces of three 7-dimensional cubes.

More details about the design.

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
My Science Advances cover that encodes sequence onto hypercubes (volume 9, issue 1, 6 January 2023). (more)

Kijima, Y. et al. A universal sequencing read interpreter (2023) Science Advances 9.

Browse my gallery of cover designs.

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
A catalogue of my journal and magazine cover designs. (more)

Regression modeling of time-to-event data with censoring

Thu 17-08-2023

If you sit on the sofa for your entire life, you’re running a higher risk of getting heart disease and cancer. —Alex Honnold, American rock climber

In a follow-up to our Survival analysis — time-to-event data and censoring article, we look at how regression can be used to account for additional risk factors in survival analysis.

We explore accelerated failure time regression (AFTR) and the Cox Proportional Hazards model (Cox PH).

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
Nature Methods Points of Significance column: Regression modeling of time-to-event data with censoring. (read)

Dey, T., Lipsitz, S.R., Cooper, Z., Trinh, Q., Krzywinski, M & Altman, N. (2022) Points of significance: Regression modeling of time-to-event data with censoring. Nature Methods 19:1513–1515.

Music video for Max Cooper's Ascent

Tue 25-10-2022

My 5-dimensional animation sets the visual stage for Max Cooper's Ascent from the album Unspoken Words. I have previously collaborated with Max on telling a story about infinity for his Yearning for the Infinite album.

I provide a walkthrough the video, describe the animation system I created to generate the frames, and show you all the keyframes

Martin Krzywinski @MKrzywinski mkweb.bcgsc.ca
Frame 4897 from the music video of Max Cooper's Asent.

The video recently premiered on YouTube.

Renders of the full scene are available as NFTs.


© 1999–2023 Martin Krzywinski | contact | Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences CentreBC Cancer Research CenterBC CancerPHSA