Year in Review
2024 Biggest Breakthroughs in Biology
We look back at three of the biggest biology stories of 2024: a reconstruction of the ancient ancestor of all modern life, the discovery of a neural circuit that regulates the immune system, and artificial intelligence’s transformation of protein science.
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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.
Meet One of NASA’s Pioneering Women
Christine Darden describes what it was like working at NASA in the 1960s and how she became an authority on minimizing sonic booms.
What Makes Physics Beautiful, According to a Nobel Prize Winner
Frank Wilczek discusses the work that led to his Nobel and the inherent beauty of physical law.
The Riemann Hypothesis, Explained
Alex Kontorovich, professor of mathematics at Rutgers University, breaks down the notoriously difficult Riemann hypothesis in this comprehensive explainer.
2020’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Biology
In 2020, the study of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was undoubtedly the most urgent priority. But there were also other major breakthroughs in the life sciences.
2020’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Math and Computer Science
For mathematicians and computer scientists, 2020 was full of discipline-spanning discoveries and celebrations of creativity.
2020’s Biggest Breakthroughs in Physics
This year, two teams of physicists made profound progress on ideas that could bring about the next revolution in physics. Another has identified the source of a longstanding cosmic mystery.