Dear readers, welcome to this fascinating journey into the world of mathematics and logic, which today leads us to explore a curious and enlightening episode from the life of Alan Turing, a genius who laid the foundations of modern computing.

Imagine being in the mid-1940s, in a war-torn England. Alan Turing, mathematician and cryptanalyst, finds himself facing a decidedly singular problem: his bicycle. The chain of his bicycle periodically came off, an inconvenience that forced Turing to always carry a tin of oil and a rag to clean his hands. But as you well know, scientists are not discouraged by a problem; on the contrary, they consider it a stimulating challenge to tackle.
Tired of dealing with this annoying inconvenience, Turing decided to analyze the problem scientifically. He noticed that the chain would come off after a roughly constant number of pedal strokes. So, he started counting the pedal strokes to predict when the chain would come off and intervene before it happened.

This rational approach allowed him to avoid the continuous use of the rag and oil, but it was still a tedious procedure.
Not satisfied, Turing didn’t stop there. Through further studies, he discovered a mathematical relationship between the number of pedal strokes, the number of chain links, and the number of spokes in the rear wheel. This discovery revealed that the chain would fall off when a slightly bent spoke came into contact with a damaged link. By straightening the spoke, Turing definitively solved the problem.

A mechanic would have solved everything in five minutes, but Turing, with his methodical and analytical approach, not only saved the cost of a repair but also ensured that no one else could use his bicycle.

A perfect example of how mathematical thinking can find creative and effective solutions to everyday problems. Speaking of Alan Turing, we cannot fail to mention his fundamental contribution to cryptography during World War II. Thanks to his work on deciphering the Enigma code used by the Germans, Turing made a decisive contribution to the Allies’ victory. Moreover, his pioneering work in the field of computation laid the groundwork for the birth of modern computers.

And as Richard Feynman once said, “What I cannot create, I do not understand.” It is precisely this spirit of curiosity and passion for discovery that guided Turing in his enterprises, both great and small.
Thank you for joining us on this journey into the world of Alan Turing. Continue to explore, discover, and marvel at the infinite possibilities offered by science and mathematics.