What's up in
Mathematics
Latest Articles
A Physicist’s Physicist Ponders the Nature of Reality
Edward Witten reflects on the meaning of dualities in physics and math, emergent space-time, and the pursuit of a complete description of nature.
A Mathematician Who Dances to the Joys and Sorrows of Discovery
Federico Ardila opens up about his journey as a mathematician, teacher, Colombian transplant, DJ and creator of mathematical spaces.
The Atomic Theory of Origami
By reimagining the kinks and folds of origami as atoms in a lattice, researchers are uncovering strange behavior hiding in simple structures.
The Math Behind Gerrymandering and Wasted Votes
Simple math can help scheming politicians manipulate district maps and cruise to victory. But it can also help identify and fix the problem.
Visionary Mathematician Vladimir Voevodsky Dies at 51
Voevodsky’s friends remember him as constitutionally unable to compromise on the truth — a quality that led him to produce some of the most important mathematics of the 20th century.
Moonshine Link Discovered for Pariah Symmetries
A type of symmetry so unusual that it was called a “pariah” turns out to have deep connections to number theory.
Mathematicians Measure Infinities and Find They’re Equal
Two mathematicians have proved that two different infinities are equal in size, settling a long-standing question. Their proof rests on a surprising link between the sizes of infinities and the complexity of mathematical theories.
Why Math Is the Best Way to Make Sense of the World
To tell truth from fiction, start with quantitative thinking, argues the mathematician Rebecca Goldin.
The Math That Promises to Make the World Brighter
The color of LED lights is controlled by a clumsy process. A new mathematical discovery may make it easier for us to get the hues we want.