We care about your data, and we'd like to use cookies to give you a smooth browsing experience. Please agree and read more about our privacy policy.
  • Physics

  • Mathematics

  • Biology

  • Computer Science

  • Topics

  • Archive

What's up in

prime numbers

An illustration of a woman sitting in a field embroidering a flower pattern. Around her grow wildflowers that appear to be randomly distributed but whose colors reveal a hidden pattern.
number theory

Mathematicians Catch a Pattern by Figuring Out How to Avoid It

By Kevin Hartnett
November 25, 2019
Read Later

We finally know how big a set of numbers can get before it has to contain a pattern known as a “polynomial progression.”

Colored spheres arranged in pairs.
prime numbers

Big Question About Primes Proved in Small Number Systems

By Kevin Hartnett
September 26, 2019
Read Later

The twin primes conjecture is one of the most important and difficult questions in mathematics. Two mathematicians have solved a parallel version of the problem for small number systems.

A dartboard with pi at its center.
number theory

New Proof Settles How to Approximate Numbers Like Pi

By Kevin Hartnett
August 14, 2019
Read Later

The ancient Greeks wondered when “irrational” numbers can be approximated by fractions. By proving the longstanding Duffin-Schaeffer conjecture, two mathematicians have provided a complete answer.

Illustration of lock with polynomials surrounding it
Abstractions blog

Mathematicians Seal Back Door to Breaking RSA Encryption

By Kevin Hartnett
December 17, 2018
Read Later

Digital security depends on the difficulty of factoring large numbers. A new proof shows why one method for breaking digital encryption won’t work.

Art for "In the Universe of Equations, Virtually All Are Prime"
number theory

In the Universe of Equations, Virtually All Are Prime

By Kevin Hartnett
December 10, 2018
Read Later

Equations, like numbers, cannot always be split into simpler elements.

Art for "The Universal Pattern Popping Up in Math, Physics and Biology"
In Theory

The Universal Pattern Popping Up in Math, Physics and Biology

By Thomas Lin
August 23, 2018
Read Later

Quanta’s In Theory video series returns with an exploration of a mysterious mathematical pattern found throughout nature.

Crystal diffraction art for "A Chemist Shines Light on a Surprising Prime Number Pattern"
prime numbers

A Chemist Shines Light on a Surprising Prime Number Pattern

By Natalie Wolchover
May 14, 2018
Read Later

When a crystallographer treated prime numbers as a system of particles, the resulting diffraction pattern created a new view of existing conjectures in number theory.

Photo of Ziegler's chalkboard
Abstractions blog

The Infinite Primes and Museum Guard Proofs, Explained

By Erica Klarreich
March 26, 2018
Read Later

A simple, step-by-step breakdown of two “perfect” math proofs.

520px photo of Robert Langlands
Abstractions blog

Robert Langlands, Mathematical Visionary, Wins the Abel Prize

By Kevin Hartnett
March 20, 2018
Read Later

Generations of researchers have pursued his “Langlands program,” which seeks to create a grand unified theory of mathematics.


Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Next

The Quanta Newsletter

Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox

Recent newsletters


  • About Quanta
  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Simons Foundation
All Rights Reserved © 2022