The Chalk Race

Environmental & Science Education
STEM
Maths
History of Science
Nature of Science
Edward Hessler

I've written about the preference that many physicists and mathematicians have for an important tool in their somewhat limited armamentarium: chalk.

Here is a lovely video about a chalk that is regarded as the best in the world: Hagoromo. It is made in Japan. You will hear mathematicians referring to it as the "Rolls Royce of chalk" and as "made from the tears of angels."  You will learn that it has become scarce and some mathematicians decided to hoard it and sell it at cost, I think (!), to colleagues.

Watching the video reminded me of writers who prefer pen and a paper pad or a notebook for their first drafts. It is about the feel of instrument/tool on the medium.