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Mathematics

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Why Mathematicians Study Knots

By David S. Richeson
October 31, 2022
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Far from being an abstract mathematical curiosity, knot theory has driven many findings in math and beyond.

Insights puzzle

The Many Ways to Win at Wordle (Without Cheating)

By Pradeep Mutalik
October 25, 2022
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Solve these puzzle questions to level up your Wordle game.

geometry

Mathematicians Discover the Fibonacci Numbers Hiding in Strange Spaces

By Leila Sloman
October 17, 2022
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Recent explorations of unique geometric worlds reveal perplexing patterns, including the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio.

A teenager wearing a blue polo shirt and glasses.
number theory

Teenager Solves Stubborn Riddle About Prime Number Look-Alikes

By Jordana Cepelewicz
October 13, 2022
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In his senior year of high school, Daniel Larsen proved a key theorem about Carmichael numbers — strange entities that mimic the primes.

geometry

‘Monumental’ Math Proof Solves Triple Bubble Problem and More

By Erica Klarreich
October 6, 2022
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The decades-old Sullivan’s conjecture, about the best way to minimize the surface area of a bubble cluster, was thought to be out of reach for three bubbles and up — until a new breakthrough result.

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How Star Trek’s Lieutenant Uhura Overcame Astronomical Odds

By Pradeep Mutalik
September 30, 2022
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Readers rescued a Star Trek crew from a probabilistic predicament armed only with the power of mathematical reasoning.

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How Big Is Infinity?

By Patrick Honner
September 27, 2022
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Of all the endless questions children and mathematicians have asked about infinity, one of the biggest has to do with its size.

geometry

The New Math of Wrinkling

By Stephen Ornes
September 22, 2022
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A comprehensive mathematical framework treats wrinkling patterns as elegant solutions to geometric problems.

A spacecraft, laptop, QR code and CD
information theory

How Mathematical Curves Enable Advanced Communication

By Jordana Cepelewicz
September 19, 2022
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A simple geometric idea has been used to power advances in information theory, cryptography and even blockchain technology.


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