Applied math

A simple, widely used mathematical technique can finally be applied to boundlessly complex problems.

Physicists and marine biologists built a quantitative framework that predicts how coral polyps collectively construct a variety of coral shapes.

Across the social and biological sciences, statisticians use a technique that leverages randomness to deal with the unknown.

Mathematicians think abstract tools from a field called symplectic geometry might help with planning missions to far-off moons and planets.

Mathematicians are using topological abstractions to find places where it’s hard to vote.

Landmark results in Ramsey theory and a remarkably simple aperiodic tile capped a year of mathematical delight and discovery.

New tools make it possible to detect hidden manipulation of maps.

For the first time, mathematicians have proved that planetary orbits in a solar system will always be unstable.

Lek-Heng Lim uses tools from algebra, geometry and topology to answer questions in machine learning.