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mathematics

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Q&A

A Mathematician Dancing Between Algebra and Geometry

By Rachel Crowell
November 22, 2022
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Wei Ho, the first director of the Women and Mathematics program at the Institute for Advanced Study, combines algebra and geometry in her work on an ancient class of curves.

Quantized Academy

The Simple Geometry Behind Brownie Bake Offs and Equal Areas

By Patrick Honner
November 21, 2022
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Proving that two polygons have the same area can be as easy as cutting them up and rearranging the pieces.

A GIF of a spinning vortex made up of fluid equations
fluid dynamics

Computer Proof ‘Blows Up’ Centuries-Old Fluid Equations

By Jordana Cepelewicz
November 16, 2022
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For more than 250 years, mathematicians have wondered if the Euler equations might sometimes fail to describe a fluid’s flow. A new computer-assisted proof marks a major breakthrough in that quest.

A purple key drawn on a lattice of points.
explainers

How Cryptography’s Quantum-Safe Future Will Work

By Leila Sloman
November 9, 2022
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Lattice cryptography promises to protect secrets from the attacks of far-future quantum computers.

Svetlana Jitomirskaya in a blue shirt with her hands out.
Q&A

A Mathematician Who Fled to Freedom but Still Faces Doubts

By Jordana Cepelewicz
November 1, 2022
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Svetlana Jitomirskaya was born in Ukraine, but left the Soviet Union to escape sexism and antisemitism. Even though her work in mathematical physics has now been honored with one of the field’s top prizes, she finds herself still fighting old battles.

Quantized Columns

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.


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