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Latest Articles

How Terry Tao Became an Evangelist for AI in Math

With automated proof-checkers, a problem can be broken up into small chunks, solved bit-by-bit, then reassembled with confidence that every piece is correct. For some, this heralds a new area in mathematical research.

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Are Memories Transferable — or Edible?

In the 1960s, worm-training experiments and their strange implications captivated the nation. Columnist Claire L. Evans follows the neuroscientists who attempted to recapture the magic.

Entanglement Builds Space-Time. Now “Magic” Gives It Gravity.

In holographic theories, physicists may have traced the pliability of space-time to its quantum roots: a measure of quantumness known as “magic.”

The Dirt That Refused To Die

Lifelike biochemistry continued to unfold in sterilized soil for six years, pointing to a metabolic theory for how biology began.

How We See the Beautiful, Violent Sun

Over hundreds of years, increasingly sophisticated instruments have revealed — and continue to reveal — the secrets of our star.

When Quiet Undersea Volcanoes Turn Disruptive

Earth’s largest volcanic system, hidden in mountain chains under the sea, has long been assumed to erupt only quietly. The shallow seafloor off Iceland tells another story.

How Ecotypes Harbor the Genetic Memory of a Species’ Past

Evolutionary biologists are uncovering genomic mechanisms that allow populations to adapt quickly to different, hyperlocal habitats without splitting into new species.

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Biggest Breakthroughs in Biology 2025

Chris Young/Quanta Magazine; Carlos Arrojo for Quanta Magazine

Special Features

Quanta Podcast


What Causes Lightning? The Answer Keeps Getting More Interesting.

Armed with a slew of new instruments, physicists are closing in on one of nature’s oldest mysteries — and finding that storm clouds are seething with violent and unexpected phenomena.

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How Can Infinity Come in Many Sizes?

Intuition breaks down once we’re dealing with the endless. To begin with: Some infinities are bigger than others.

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Illuminating basic science and math research through public service journalism.

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Quanta Magazine is committed to in-depth, accurate journalism that serves the public interest. Each article braids the complexities of science with the malleable art of storytelling and is meticulously reported, edited and fact-checked. Launched and funded by the Simons Foundation, Quanta is editorially independent — our articles do not reflect or represent the views of the foundation.

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