Pradeep Mutalik

Puzzle Columnist

Latest Articles

Quanta’s Science and Math Crossword Puzzle

December 22, 2017

This holiday season, catch up on science and math news while solving our year-end crossword.

Solution: ‘Triumph or Cooperation in Game Theory and Evolution’

December 8, 2017

How well does the Nash equilibrium concept from game theory map to the real world?

How to Triumph and Cooperate in Game Theory and Evolution

November 9, 2017

In applying game theory to biology and human behavior, have scientists focused too much on competition over cooperation?

Solution: ‘How to Win at Deep Learning’

November 3, 2017

When equipped with hidden layers, deep neural networks can accomplish nonlinear feats that are difficult even with sophisticated mathematics.

How to Win at Deep Learning

October 9, 2017

What happens when you increase the number of layers in an artificial neural network?

Solution: ‘Are Genes Selfish or Cooperative?’

September 29, 2017

Puzzle solvers rediscovered a simple mathematical result of Mendelian genetics and weighed in on a Richard Dawkins metaphor.

Are Genes Selfish or Cooperative?

September 14, 2017

Can you discover a simple mathematical result of Mendelian genetics that describes how genes interact with each other?

Solution: ‘The Prime Rib Problem’

September 8, 2017

Pradeep Mutalik and Quanta readers explore an open question about prime numbers: What is the lowest valued, longest consecutive sequence of integers that are divisible by a set of prime numbers?

The Prime Rib Problem

August 14, 2017

Prime numbers are endlessly fascinating to number theorists and math enthusiasts. This month’s puzzle explores primes by cooking up a whimsical dish of grilled snake ribs.

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