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Illuminating math and science. Supported by @SimonsFdn. 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting.

Shorts

In computer simulations, as an object slides along the surface of ice, a structureless, "amorphous" layer forms. Materials scientists at Saarland University in Germany argue that this process may be the cause of ice’s slipperiness.

In computer simulations, as an object slides along the surface of ice, a structureless, "amorphous" layer forms. Materials scientists at Saarland University in Germany argue that this process may be the cause of ice’s slipperiness.

333,920 Aufrufe

Columnist Natalie Wolchover spent the early weeks of the pandemic learning how the 25-year-old Austrian logician and mathematician Kurt Gödel established that no formal system of math can ever be complete. “Oh yeah, that time you almost went crazy?” was how her wife remembered it. Read the full column:

Columnist Natalie Wolchover spent the early weeks of the pandemic learning how the 25-year-old Austrian logician and mathematician Kurt Gödel established that no formal system of math can ever be complete. “Oh yeah, that time you almost went crazy?” was how her wife remembered it. Read the full column:

28,284 Aufrufe

Watch as this plant’s chloroplasts shift in response to bright light (which turns on at the 20-minute mark, indicated in the upper left). These organelles are solving a packing problem: how to optimize photosynthesis without sustaining damage from dangerously intense rays.

Watch as this plant’s chloroplasts shift in response to bright light (which turns on at the 20-minute mark, indicated in the upper left). These organelles are solving a packing problem: how to optimize photosynthesis without sustaining damage from dangerously intense rays.

45,031 Aufrufe

🧊Scientists generally agree that a thin watery layer on the surface of ice is responsible for ice’s slipperiness. But why does this layer form? Is it due to pressure, friction, pre-melting, or something else? Daniel Bonn built a microscopic ice-skating rink to test out his theory.

🧊Scientists generally agree that a thin watery layer on the surface of ice is responsible for ice’s slipperiness. But why does this layer form? Is it due to pressure, friction, pre-melting, or something else? Daniel Bonn built a microscopic ice-skating rink to test out his theory.

169,269 Aufrufe

$Observe this mouse blastocyst's transformation. At first, it seems as though the cell is almost self-destructing. But these fracturing mechanisms are actually constructive, creating a cavernous space for a mouse fetus to grow in.$

Observe this mouse blastocyst's transformation. At first, it seems as though the cell is almost self-destructing. But these fracturing mechanisms are actually constructive, creating a cavernous space for a mouse fetus to grow in.

97,850 Aufrufe

A trio of mathematicians built the first physical model of a “monostable” tetrahedron, a shape that will always flip-flop onto the same face no matter what side you place it on. In order for it to work properly, it had to be engineered to a level of precision within one-tenth of a gram and one-tenth of a millimeter. (From the archive)

A trio of mathematicians built the first physical model of a “monostable” tetrahedron, a shape that will always flip-flop onto the same face no matter what side you place it on. In order for it to work properly, it had to be engineered to a level of precision within one-tenth of a gram and one-tenth of a millimeter. (From the archive)

64,668 Aufrufe

In 1874, Georg Cantor published one of the most important papers in math’s 4,000-year history. The ideas in it were stolen. 🧵

In 1874, Georg Cantor published one of the most important papers in math’s 4,000-year history. The ideas in it were stolen. 🧵

74,050 Aufrufe

Dijkstra’s algorithm doesn’t just tell you the fastest route to one destination. Instead, it gives you an ordered list of travel times from your current location to every other point that you might want to visit — a solution to what researchers call the single-source shortest-paths problem.

Dijkstra’s algorithm doesn’t just tell you the fastest route to one destination. Instead, it gives you an ordered list of travel times from your current location to every other point that you might want to visit — a solution to what researchers call the single-source shortest-paths problem.

274,730 Aufrufe

Living tissues can withstand immense forces, but no organ is quite as lively or forceful as the heart. The zebra fish heart — which is about the size of a poppy seed — beats 150 times per minute. It expands nearly twice its size and then contracts with each rhythmic pulse.

Living tissues can withstand immense forces, but no organ is quite as lively or forceful as the heart. The zebra fish heart — which is about the size of a poppy seed — beats 150 times per minute. It expands nearly twice its size and then contracts with each rhythmic pulse.

54,225 Aufrufe

Meet the ultimate gatekeeper of the nucleus. This molecular machine determines what compounds are welcome inside and which shall not pass. The mechanism behind its selectivity remains a mystery.

Meet the ultimate gatekeeper of the nucleus. This molecular machine determines what compounds are welcome inside and which shall not pass. The mechanism behind its selectivity remains a mystery.

48,508 Aufrufe

Once considered merely packing peanuts for the brain, new studies suggest that large brain cells called astrocytes supervise the circuits that control brain states like hopelessness, sleep, and hunger. Ingrid Wickelgren reports:

Once considered merely packing peanuts for the brain, new studies suggest that large brain cells called astrocytes supervise the circuits that control brain states like hopelessness, sleep, and hunger. Ingrid Wickelgren reports:

61,968 Aufrufe

According to the theoretical physicist and author Carlo Rovelli, there is no such thing as objective reality — only perspectives. In a conversation with Zack Savitsky and a new video on the Quanta YouTube channel, Rovelli shares his own perspective on time, gravity, philosophy, and the nature of our world.

According to the theoretical physicist and author Carlo Rovelli, there is no such thing as objective reality — only perspectives. In a conversation with Zack Savitsky and a new video on the Quanta YouTube channel, Rovelli shares his own perspective on time, gravity, philosophy, and the nature of our world.

65,823 Aufrufe

Recent studies in living animals reveal that the cytoplasm is a thick, jam-like fluid. And yet, miraculously, hoards of molecules find their way to each other in every crowded cell. Gabriel Popkin reports:

Recent studies in living animals reveal that the cytoplasm is a thick, jam-like fluid. And yet, miraculously, hoards of molecules find their way to each other in every crowded cell. Gabriel Popkin reports:

33,915 Aufrufe

A new mathematical framework demonstrates that new species tend to evolve in sudden, rapid bursts instead of through slow, gradual change. Jake Buehler reports:

A new mathematical framework demonstrates that new species tend to evolve in sudden, rapid bursts instead of through slow, gradual change. Jake Buehler reports:

67,759 Aufrufe

What if the inside of black holes are a roiling sea of space and time stretching and compressing in multiple directions?

What if the inside of black holes are a roiling sea of space and time stretching and compressing in multiple directions?

21,799 Aufrufe

$Three high schoolers proved that a fractal called the Menger sponge can contain any knot. Gregory Barber reports:$

Three high schoolers proved that a fractal called the Menger sponge can contain any knot. Gregory Barber reports:

80,449 Aufrufe

The heartbeat and other bodily processes play a surprising role in shaping perception and cognition. (From the archive)

The heartbeat and other bodily processes play a surprising role in shaping perception and cognition. (From the archive)

21,856 Aufrufe

For the first time in four decades, a new algorithm has improved upon the speed limit for calculating the fastest route between two points. Ben Brubaker reports:

For the first time in four decades, a new algorithm has improved upon the speed limit for calculating the fastest route between two points. Ben Brubaker reports:

46,110 Aufrufe

A Hamiltonian path is a route that passes through every node in a graph exactly once. Finding Hamiltonian paths can overload even the best-known algorithm for the job. Finding Eulerian paths that pass through every edge is computationally simpler.

A Hamiltonian path is a route that passes through every node in a graph exactly once. Finding Hamiltonian paths can overload even the best-known algorithm for the job. Finding Eulerian paths that pass through every edge is computationally simpler.

69,419 Aufrufe

If you sandwich a ball between two parallel planes, it will roll perfectly. But surprisingly, smaller, pointier shapes can do this too. Do such shapes exist in higher dimensions? A new math proof says yes. Gregory Barber reports:

If you sandwich a ball between two parallel planes, it will roll perfectly. But surprisingly, smaller, pointier shapes can do this too. Do such shapes exist in higher dimensions? A new math proof says yes. Gregory Barber reports:

65,610 Aufrufe

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Watch as this plant’s chloroplasts shift in response to bright light (which turns on at the 20-minute mark, indicated in the upper left). These organelles are solving a packing problem: how to optimize photosynthesis without sustaining damage from dangerously intense rays.

Watch as this plant’s chloroplasts shift in response to bright light (which turns on at the 20-minute mark, indicated in the upper left). These organelles are solving a packing problem: how to optimize photosynthesis without sustaining damage from dangerously intense rays.

Quanta Magazine

45,031 Aufrufe • vor 27 Tagen

When photons hurtle toward a black hole, most are sucked into its depths, never to return, or gently deflected away. A few, however, skirt the hole, making a series of abrupt U-turns. Some theorists now say that this “light trap” hints at quantum gravity.

When photons hurtle toward a black hole, most are sucked into its depths, never to return, or gently deflected away. A few, however, skirt the hole, making a series of abrupt U-turns. Some theorists now say that this “light trap” hints at quantum gravity.

Quanta Magazine

340,759 Aufrufe • vor 3 Jahren

We often think of our genes as the script of our fate. But genes are not the whole story.

We often think of our genes as the script of our fate. But genes are not the whole story.

Quanta Magazine

50,466 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

If the mounting evidence of weakening dark energy holds up, it would upend cosmologists’ understanding of our ultimate destiny. Charlie Wood reports:

If the mounting evidence of weakening dark energy holds up, it would upend cosmologists’ understanding of our ultimate destiny. Charlie Wood reports:

Quanta Magazine

56,497 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

A vast construction project is underway to bridge disparate fields of mathematics. Learn about the incredible Langlands program in our video explainer:

A vast construction project is underway to bridge disparate fields of mathematics. Learn about the incredible Langlands program in our video explainer:

Quanta Magazine

14,354 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

The process of multiplying any two matrices of a given size can be described by a single, unique, 3D tensor.

The process of multiplying any two matrices of a given size can be described by a single, unique, 3D tensor.

Quanta Magazine

78,816 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

Bacteria glowing with green fluorescence move inside a fungal cell. In this video, the bacteria seem like an infection, but in successive generations, the two organisms will adapt to each other until they find endosymbiotic balance.

Bacteria glowing with green fluorescence move inside a fungal cell. In this video, the bacteria seem like an infection, but in successive generations, the two organisms will adapt to each other until they find endosymbiotic balance.

Quanta Magazine

18,609 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

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