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Latest Articles

Does Computer Science Need Computers?

The theoretical side of the field doesn’t require computing machines. But many questions would never have been posed without them.

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In Hilbert Space, All Things Are Quantumly Possible

To explore quantum phenomena, we must leave the familiar world and enter the abstract realm of Hilbert space.

A New Framework for How the Brain Compresses Our Noisy World

An updated view of categorization reflects the modern understanding that the nervous system is more of a prediction engine than a filing cabinet.

‘Huge Breakthrough’ in the Math of Imbalance

For the first time in 30 years, computer scientists have found a better way to allocate objects evenly between two groups.

Building a Quantum Computer, One Fragile Qubit at a Time

No one yet knows which technology will power the quantum computers of the future, but the race to create them has already produced some of science’s most intricate machinery.

Q&A

Why Aging May Be a Program, Not a Breakdown

By deciphering the molecular signatures of millions of mouse cells, Junyue Cao has found that aging is not haphazard wear and tear but rather a “remodeling of the cell society.”

Graduate Student Proves a Quantum Uncertainty Principle for Fractals

The math, which combines chaos, quantum theory, and infinitely complex fractal structures, has been called a “foundational result.”

Why Are Rivers So Mathematical?

A simple scaling law brings order to the chaos of flowing water, rock, and sediment. New findings have extended the law even further.

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The 17-Year-Old Student Who Solved a Major Math Mystery

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Special Features

The Joy of Why


Scientists investigating a neural network mechanical brain
00:00 / 52:09

Computer scientist Melanie Mitchell discusses why artificial intelligence doesn’t “think” or “reason” like humans, and how we can create better methods for measuring machine cognition.

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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.

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Illuminating basic science and math research through public service journalism.

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