
Richard Prum explains why he thinks feathers and vibrant traits in birds evolved not solely for survival, but also through aesthetic choice.
Mark Belan and Michael Kanyangolo/Quanta Magazine
The same pulling force that causes “tears” in a glass of wine also shapes embryos. It’s another example of how genes exploit mechanical forces for growth and development.
New work shows that physical folding of the genome to control genes located far away may have been an early evolutionary development.
The amplituhedron, a shape at the heart of particle physics, appears to be deeply connected to the mathematics of paper folding.
The V-JEPA system uses ordinary videos to understand the physics of the real world.
“Anomalous” heat flow, which at first appears to violate the second law of thermodynamics, gives physicists a way to detect quantum entanglement without destroying it.
Using a relatively young theory, a team of mathematicians has started to answer questions whose roots lie at the very beginning of mathematics.
Naomi Saphra thinks that most research into language models focuses too much on the finished product. She’s mining the history of their training for insights into why these systems work the way they do.
Two mathematicians have proved that a straightforward question — how hard is it to untie a knot? — has a complicated answer.
Christopher W. Young/Quanta Magazine
Richard Prum explains why he thinks feathers and vibrant traits in birds evolved not solely for survival, but also through aesthetic choice.
Earth’s radiation can send some molecules spinning or vibrating, which is what makes them greenhouse gases. This infographic explains how relatively few heat-trapping molecules can have a planetary effect.
Illuminating basic science and math research through public service journalism.
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