Editor’s Note: Published in 1957, this article comes from Martin Gardner’s legendary Scientific American column Mathematical Games. Read more in our special digital issue, Fun and Games.

Editor’s Note: Published in 1956, this article proved so popular that it served as the inspiration for Martin Gardner’s legendary Scientific American column Mathematical Games. Read more in ...

"I had a lot of help. "I was so lucky." Martin Gardner attended a session for help with his shoulder pain The sessions are invite-only, with people needing a referral from their GP to attend.

It sounds like a challenge from a [Martin Gardner] math puzzle from the Scientific American of days gone by: is it possible to build a three-dimensional wooden box with only two surfaces?