MathematicsJuly 28, 2023
$1 Million Will Go to the Mathematician Who Busts the ‘ABC Conjecture’ Theory
The founder of a Japanese media company has offered a large cash prize to anyone who can find a flaw in an unusual proof
Stories by Manon Bischoff
Manon Bischoff is a theoretical physicist and editor at Spektrum, a partner publication of Scientific American.
MathematicsJuly 24, 2023
Why Do Cats Land on Their Feet? Physics Explains
As it turns out, felines can survive a fall from any height—at least in theory
MathematicsJuly 13, 2023
Infinity Is Not Always Equal to Infinity
There are infinite real and natural numbers—yet real numbers exceed natural numbers thanks to the mind-bending logic of infinities
MathematicsJuly 1, 2023
Discovery of Elusive ‘Einstein’ Tile Raises More Questions Than It Answers
A surprisingly simple answer to a mathematical puzzle intrigues the math world
Artificial IntelligenceJune 15, 2023
New Tool Reveals How AI Makes Decisions
Large language models such as ChatGPT tend to make things up. A new approach now allows the systems to explain their responses—at least partially
MathematicsJune 13, 2023
Here’s How Hackers Steal Your Password and How You Can Create a Safer One
To craft a better password, first learn how people crack them
MathematicsJune 6, 2023
Gift Wrapping Five Oranges Has Outwitted the Best Minds in Mathematics for Generations
Perfectly wrapping spherical objects together seems trivial, but it’s a task that has stumped mathematicians for centuries
MathematicsMay 23, 2023
These Are the Most Bizarre Numbers in the Universe
Most real numbers are unknown—even to mathematicians
MathematicsMay 4, 2023
Why the ‘Sleeping Beauty Problem’ Is Keeping Mathematicians Awake
A thought experiment that’s dividing mathematicians can help illuminate how belief shapes rational decisions
Particle PhysicsMay 1, 2023
How Much Does ‘Nothing’ Weigh?
The Archimedes experiment will weigh the void of empty space to help solve a big cosmic puzzle
MathematicsApril 28, 2023
Information Theory Finds the Best Wordle Starting Words
Information theory can help people mathematically calculate the best starting guess for a popular online game
MathematicsApril 10, 2023
Newfound Mathematical ‘Einstein’ Shape Creates a Never-Repeating Pattern
A new shape called an einstein has taken the math world by storm. The craggy, hat-shaped tile can cover an infinite plane with patterns that never repeat.
MathematicsMarch 23, 2023
Top Math Prize Awarded for Describing the Dynamics of the Flow of Rivers and the Melting of Ice
Argentine mathematician Luis Caffarelli has won the 2023 Abel Prize for making natural phenomena more understandable and eliminating dreaded “infinities” from a calculation
MathematicsMarch 20, 2023
The World’s Simplest Theorem Shows That 8,000 People Globally Have the Same Number of Hairs on Their Head
Hairiness is the perfect way to demonstrate the math underlying the “pigeonhole principle,” first conceived in 1622
MathematicsMarch 3, 2023
The Most Boring Number in the World Is ...
That prime numbers and powers of 2 fascinate many people comes as no surprise. In fact, all numbers split into two camps: interesting and boring
MathematicsNovember 10, 2022
Geometry Reveals the Tricks behind Gerrymandering
Some voting districts are tilted intentionally toward one party or another—a factor in the midterms. Geometry plays a critical role in gerrymandering
MathematicsNovember 8, 2022
Ramsey Theory Extracts Order from Chaos when Sorting through Confusing Arrangements of Numbers
Mathematician Frank Ramsey showed how to discover coherent patterns among a multitude of number groupings
MathematicsOctober 4, 2022
Can God Be Proved Mathematically?
Some mathematicians have sought a logical proof for the existence of God. Here’s what they discovered
StatisticsSeptember 30, 2022
Statistics Are Being Abused, but Mathematicians Are Fighting Back
An expert explains how numbers can mislead and what she’s doing to help people understand them better