Year in Review
2023’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Math
In 2023, mathematicians improved bounds on Ramsey numbers, a central measure of order in graphs; found a new aperiodic monotile; and discovered a new upper bound to the size of sets without 3-term arithmetic progressions.
Read related article
Select Playlist
Explore All Videos
Black Hole Jets: Unraveling One of the Biggest Mysteries in the Universe
At the heart of every galaxy lies one of the most mysterious objects in the universe: a supermassive black hole. Millions to billions of times the mass of our sun, these giants power astrophysical jets, one of the most energetic processes known to physics.
The Theory That Could Rewrite the Laws of Physics
Marletto explains why traditional approaches to physics fail in important cases such as information theory, and how constructor theory might succeed.
Plate Tectonics: The Mystery of Earth’s Many Faces
Lucía Pérez-Díaz explores the mysteries of plate tectonics.
Iceland Is a Portal to Mars
Volcanic eruptions are intimately connected with life. Scientists are using the current eruptions in Iceland to understand the possible history of life on Mars.
Fighting for Equality in Computer Science and Beyond
Abebe switched fields from math to computer science in order to learn tools she could apply to social problems like poverty and educational inequality.
Why Extraterrestrial Life Might Not Be So Alien
The zoologist Arik Kershenbaum of the University of Cambridge discusses convergent evolution, animal communications and why life throughout the universe may have certain common features.
This U.S. Olympiad Coach Has a Unique Approach to Math
Po-Shen Loh discusses his approach to coaching the United States International Mathematical Olympiad team and reveals what he believes to be the major problem with math education.
Why COVID-19 Models Don’t Predict the Future
To understand what epidemiological models can tell us, it helps to first understand what they can’t. In this comprehensive explainer, we break down how epidemiological models are built and dispel some of the common misunderstandings about their applications.
How Cosmic Dust Reveals the Secrets of the Universe
Matthew Genge shows explains to read the history of our solar system in the language of cosmic dust.