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Mathematics
number theory
Together and Alone, Closing the Prime Gap
Working on the centuries-old twin primes conjecture, two solitary researchers and a massive collaboration have made enormous advances over the last six months.
Data Driven: The New Big Science
The Mathematical Shape of Things to Come
Scientific data sets are becoming more dynamic, requiring new mathematical techniques on par with the invention of calculus.
theoretical physics
A Jewel at the Heart of Quantum Physics
Physicists have discovered a jewel-shaped geometric object that challenges the notion that space and time are fundamental constituents of nature.
number theory
Mathematicians Shed Light on Elliptic Curves
Two young mathematicians are illuminating a frontier in the study of rational solutions to polynomial equations: the cubics.
Mathematics
Unheralded Mathematician Bridges the Prime Gap
A virtually unknown researcher has made a great advance in one of mathematics’ oldest problems, the twin primes conjecture.
climate science
The Ocean’s Dynamic Role in Climate Change
New data collected by mathematicians and oceanographers in the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean could dramatically improve climate models.
networks
Treading Softly in a Connected World
In an increasingly interconnected world, scientists are seeking safeguards against catastrophic cascades of failure like stock market crashes and widespread blackouts.
symmetry
How to Make Impossible Wallpaper
A new collection of arresting wallpaper designs seems to defy the crystallographic restriction.
algorithms
In Computers We Trust?
As the role of computers in pure mathematics grows, researchers debate their reliability.