Richard Prum explains why he thinks feathers and vibrant traits in birds evolved not solely for survival, but also through aesthetic choice.
Quanta Magazine | Science and Math News
Aaron Comeault
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How Ecotypes Harbor the Genetic Memory of a Species’ Past
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Evolutionary biologists are uncovering genomic mechanisms that allow populations to adapt quickly to different, hyperlocal habitats without splitting into new species.
Two Researchers Are Rebuilding Mathematics From the Ground Up
By replacing the most fundamental concept in topology, Peter Scholze and Dustin Clausen are taking the first step in a far bigger program to understand why numbers behave the way they do.
How Alexander Grothendieck Revolutionized 20th-Century Mathematics
Grothendieck is revered in the world of math; outside of it, he’s known for his unusual life, if he’s known at all. But what were his actual mathematical contributions?
What Do Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems Truly Mean?
At 25, Kurt Gödel proved there can never be a mathematical “theory of everything.” Columnist Natalie Wolchover explores the implications.
Rubin Tracks Skyscraper-Size Asteroids, Failed Supernovas, and Interstellar Visitors
Astronomers are preparing for a new era of big-data astronomy, and results are already starting to arrive.
How the Bird Eye Was Pushed to an Evolutionary Extreme
The bird retina is one of the most energetically expensive tissues in the animal kingdom, yet it doesn’t use the energy advantage of oxygen. New research finally explains how this is possible.
How Unknowable Math Can Help Hide Secrets
A graduate student recently harnessed the complexity of mathematical proofs to create a powerful new tool in cryptography.
Will We Ever Be Able To Forecast Volcanic Eruptions Like Weather?
It should be possible, but getting there will require a greater understanding of subsurface physics.
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Illuminating basic science and math research through public service journalism.
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