Significance Dives into How R Number
Became Metric on Everyone’s Lips

This month’s cover feature is the first in a six-part series by Gavin Freeguard on the R number, a.k.a. reproduction rate. The metric became an early ‘breakout star’ during the pandemic—along with the terms “furlough” and “social distancing”—affecting the lives and entering the everyday conversations of people who hadn’t paid much attention to mathematical concepts since they were 16. Was it right that the R number became so important and held such sway over government policy? Gavin’s fascinating and easily digestible article expertly encompasses the diversity of opinion on this controversial concept and tells us where it came from in the first place.

Know any American National Football League coaches? They’ll thank you for sharing our article about when it’s best to throw the red challenge flag. Cricket fans, meanwhile, can now judge whether so-called ‘Bazball’ lives up to the hype with the help of our statistical exploration. We also step back into Victorian London to look at an early customer loyalty scheme and why it spooked Britain’s ruling classes.

March Highlights

Slapdash Stats: Unearthing statistics-related blunders in academic papers and what they mean for science publishing

Data and Getting Dressed, Part 2: Jordi Prats’ examination of the stats behind clothing sizes concludes. This issue: ready-to-wear and uniforms.

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