Abstractions blog

An 18th-century physicist first predicted the existence of a chorus of atmospheric waves that swoop around Earth. Scientists have finally found them.

A new model shows that the denizens of a vast, ancient biome beneath the seafloor use barely enough energy to stay alive — and broadens understanding of what life can look like.

The unintentional creation of “sturddlefish” hybrids may illuminate the genomic mechanisms that govern whether species can interbreed.

Detailed computer simulations have found that a cosmic contraction can generate features of the universe that we observe today.

Plants ignore the most energy-rich part of sunlight because stability matters more than efficiency, according to a new model of photosynthesis.

Symplectic geometry is a relatively new field with implications for much of modern mathematics. Here’s what it’s all about.

Modified gravity theories have never been able to describe the universe’s first light. A new formulation does.

Why do mathematicians enjoy proving the same results in different ways?

Earth’s climate has fluctuated through deep time, pushed by these 10 different causes. Here’s how each compares with modern climate change.