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What Makes for ‘Good’ Mathematics?

February 1, 2024

Terence Tao, who has been called the “Mozart of Mathematics,” wrote an essay in 2007 about the common ingredients in “good” mathematical research. In this episode, the Fields Medalist joins Steven Strogatz to revisit the topic.

Plants Find Light Using Gaps Between Their Cells

January 31, 2024

A mutant seedling revealed how plant tissues scatter incoming light, allowing plants to sense its direction and move toward it.

How to Build an Origami Computer

January 30, 2024

Two mathematicians have shown that origami can, in principle, be used to perform any possible computation.

Researchers Approach New Speed Limit for Seminal Problem

January 29, 2024

Integer linear programming can help find the answer to a variety of real-world problems. Now researchers have found a much faster way to do it.

The Quest to Decode the Mandelbrot Set, Math’s Famed Fractal

January 26, 2024

For decades, a small group of mathematicians has patiently unraveled the mystery of what was once math’s most popular picture. Their story shows how technology transforms even the most abstract mathematical landscapes.

The Surprisingly Simple Math Behind Puzzling Matchups

January 25, 2024

If Anna beats Benji in a game and Benji beats Carl, will Anna beat Carl?

Why Locusts Swarm, Humans Do Good and Time Marches On

January 25, 2024

The Joy of Why podcast returns for a third season, with two co-hosts, 24 brilliant guests and 24 all-new episodes.

The Best Neighborhoods for Starting a Life in the Galaxy

January 24, 2024

Some neighborhoods in the Milky Way may be better suited for making habitable planets than others.

The Brain Region That Controls Movement Also Guides Feelings

January 23, 2024

The cerebellum is responsible for far more than coordinating movement. New techniques reveal that it is, in fact, a hub of sensory and emotional processing in the brain.

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