xsullo for Quanta Magazine
The universe of problems that a computer can check has grown. The researchers’ secret ingredient? Quantum entanglement.
A little high school geometry can help you understand the basic math behind movie recommendation engines.
Some viruses can replicate without infecting any one cell with all their genes.
The story of the birth of chaos theory has left out two programming pioneers.
For more than six decades, the influential biologist Edward O. Wilson has drawn connections between evolution, ecology and behavior, often sparking controversies inside and outside of science.
Mathematicians used “magic functions” to prove that two highly symmetric lattices solve a myriad of problems in eight- and 24-dimensional space.
A new experiment confirms the existence of “superionic ice,” a bizarre form of water that might comprise the bulk of giant icy planets throughout the universe.
It’s an educated guess, not a proof. But a good conjecture will guide math forward, pointing the way into the mathematical unknown.
To minimize brain strain when thinking recursively, start simply, look for a pattern and let the pattern do the work.
Turbulence is everywhere, yet it is one of the most difficult concepts for physicists to understand.
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.
