Quanta Magazine | Science and Math News

Small green discs move around within a rectangular plant cell.

Benedikt Pleyer, Nomadic Nostoc/Science Photo Library

Latest Articles

The Hidden Mathematical Dance Inside Plant Cells

The sunlight-collecting organelles known as chloroplasts solve a packing problem: how to optimize photosynthesis without sustaining damage from dangerously intense rays.

Read article

A Treasure Trove of Cambrian Fossils Rewrites the Story of Early Life

Remarkably preserved fossils found in southern China offer a fascinating window into what life looked like at the end of the Cambrian explosion, with half of the species uncovered being new to science.

What Can We Gain by Losing Infinity?

Ultrafinitism, a philosophy that rejects the infinite, has long been dismissed as mathematical heresy. But it is also producing new insights in math and beyond.

Why Math’s Final Axiom Proved So Controversial

Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory is so widely accepted that modern mathematicians hardly think about it. But believing in its core principles didn’t come easily.

Physicists Discover the Most Complex Forms of Ice Yet

Scientists keep detecting new forms of ice. According to simulations, there could be many more left to find.

A New Type of Neuroplasticity Rewires the Brain After a Single Experience

“Neurons that fire together, wire together” is not the full story. A novel mechanism explains how the brain can learn across longer timescales.

A Powerful New ‘QR Code’ Untangles Math’s Knottiest Knots

With a newly discovered mathematical tool, researchers are hoping to gain unprecedented insight into the structure of complex knots.

What Physical ‘Life Force’ Turns Biology’s Wheels?

The bacterial flagellar motor is finally understood after 50 years. In its workings, columnist Natalie Wolchover finds the essence of life.

Featured Videos

See all videos
By clicking to watch this video, you agree to our privacy policy.

Biggest Breakthroughs in Biology 2025

Chris Young/Quanta Magazine; Carlos Arrojo for Quanta Magazine

Special Features

The Joy of Why


Two cranes symmetrically poised with their beaks together below a full moon
00:00 / 46:07

Richard Prum explains why he thinks feathers and vibrant traits in birds evolved not solely for survival, but also through aesthetic choice.

Multimedia


How Can Infinity Come in Many Sizes?

Intuition breaks down once we’re dealing with the endless. To begin with: Some infinities are bigger than others.

About Quanta Magazine

Illuminating basic science and math research through public service journalism.

More about us

Quanta Magazine is committed to in-depth, accurate journalism that serves the public interest. Each article braids the complexities of science with the malleable art of storytelling and is meticulously reported, edited and fact-checked. Launched and funded by the Simons Foundation, Quanta is editorially independent — our articles do not reflect or represent the views of the foundation.

More about us