Latest Articles
Graduate Student Solves Classic Problem About the Limits of Addition
A new proof illuminates the hidden patterns that emerge when addition becomes impossible.
For Algorithms, a Little Memory Outweighs a Lot of Time
One computer scientist’s “stunning” proof is the first progress in 50 years on one of the most famous questions in computer science.
‘Turbocharged’ Mitochondria Power Birds’ Epic Migratory Journeys
Slight changes in the number, shape, efficiency and interconnectedness of organelles in the cells of flight muscles provide extra energy for birds’ continent-spanning feats.
New ‘Superdiffusion’ Proof Probes the Mysterious Math of Turbulence
Turbulence is a notoriously difficult phenomenon to study. Mathematicians are now starting to untangle it at its smallest scales.
How Did Geometry Create Modern Physics?
Geometry may have its origins thousands of years ago in ancient land surveying, but it has also had a surprising impact on modern physics. In the latest episode of The Joy of Why, Yang-Hui He explores geometry’s evolution and its future potential through AI.
How the Universe Differs From Its Mirror Image
From living matter to molecules to elementary particles, the world is made of “chiral” objects that differ from their reflected forms.
Introducing The Quanta Podcast
Exploring the distant universe, the insides of cells, the abstractions of math, the complexity of information itself and much more, The Quanta Podcast will be a tour of the frontier between the known and the unknown.
The Fastest Way Yet to Color Graphs
Researchers have devised a scheme for painting the edges of a graph that’s almost as speedy as possible.
Finding Beauty and Truth in Mundane Occurrences
The physicist Sidney Nagel delights in solving mysteries of the universe that are hiding in plain sight.