Latest Articles

Singularities in Space-Time Prove Hard to Kill

May 27, 2025

Black hole and Big Bang singularities break our best theory of gravity. A trilogy of theorems hints that physicists must go to the ends of space and time to find a fix.

Graduate Student Solves Classic Problem About the Limits of Addition

May 22, 2025

A new proof illuminates the hidden patterns that emerge when addition becomes impossible.

For Algorithms, a Little Memory Outweighs a Lot of Time

May 21, 2025

One computer scientist’s “stunning” proof is the first progress in 50 years on one of the most famous questions in computer science.

‘Turbocharged’ Mitochondria Power Birds’ Epic Migratory Journeys

May 19, 2025

Slight changes in the number, shape, efficiency and interconnectedness of organelles in the cells of flight muscles provide extra energy for birds’ continent-spanning feats.

New ‘Superdiffusion’ Proof Probes the Mysterious Math of Turbulence

May 16, 2025

Turbulence is a notoriously difficult phenomenon to study. Mathematicians are now starting to untangle it at its smallest scales.

How Did Geometry Create Modern Physics?

May 15, 2025

Geometry may have its origins thousands of years ago in ancient land surveying, but it has also had a surprising impact on modern physics. In the latest episode of The Joy of Why, Yang-Hui He explores geometry’s evolution and its future potential through AI.

How the Universe Differs From Its Mirror Image

May 14, 2025

From living matter to molecules to elementary particles, the world is made of “chiral” objects that differ from their reflected forms.

The Fastest Way Yet to Color Graphs

May 12, 2025

Researchers have devised a scheme for painting the edges of a graph that’s almost as speedy as possible.

Q&A

Finding Beauty and Truth in Mundane Occurrences

May 9, 2025

The physicist Sidney Nagel delights in solving mysteries of the universe that are hiding in plain sight.

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