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Deep Learning Poised to ‘Blow Up’ Famed Fluid Equations

April 12, 2022

For centuries, mathematicians have tried to prove that Euler’s fluid equations can produce nonsensical answers. A new approach to machine learning has researchers betting that “blowup” is near.

Life With Longer Genetic Codes Seems Possible — but Less Likely

April 11, 2022

Life could use a more expansive genetic code in theory, but new work shows that improving on three-letter codons would be a challenge.

The Secrets of Zugzwang in Chess, Math and Pizzas

April 8, 2022

Learn the magic and math of how to win games when your opponent goes first.

Newly Measured Particle Seems Heavy Enough to Break Known Physics

April 7, 2022

A new analysis of W bosons suggests these particles are significantly heavier than predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics.

Untangling Why Knots Are Important

April 6, 2022

Steven Strogatz explores the mysteries of knots with the mathematicians Colin Adams and Lisa Piccirillo.

Researchers Identify ‘Master Problem’ Underlying All Cryptography

April 6, 2022

The existence of secure cryptography depends on one of the oldest questions in computational complexity.

Mitochondria Double as Tiny Lenses in the Eye

April 5, 2022

The optical properties of mitochondrial bundles in the retina may improve how efficiently the eye captures light.

Father-Son Team Solves Geometry Problem With Infinite Folds

April 4, 2022

The result could help researchers answer a larger question about flattening objects from the fourth dimension to the third dimension.

Beyond the Second Law

March 31, 2022

Thanks to the power of fluctuation relations, physicists are taking the second law of thermodynamics to settings once thought impossible.

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