Math

  1. metal kilogram
    Physics

    The kilogram just got a revamp. A unit of time might be next

    After years of preparation, new definitions for the basic units of mass, temperature and more have now gone into effect.

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  2. Calabi-Yau manifolds
    Math

    A mathematician traces his journey from poverty to prominence

    In 'The Shape of Life,' Shing-Tung Yau describes his groundbreaking work in geometry, which provided insights into string theory.

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  3. multiplication
    Math

    Mathematicians may have found the fastest way to multiply huge numbers

    A new theoretical method for multiplying enormous figures appears to achieve a speed first predicted decades ago.

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  4. two pigeons, each sitting in a cubbyhole
    Quantum Physics

    Photons reveal a weird effect called the quantum pigeonhole paradox

    Quantum particles seem to disobey a fundamental principle of mathematics.

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  5. Health & Medicine

    Readers have questions about Parkinson’s disease, moth wings and more

    Readers had questions about Parkinson’s disease, the new definition of a kilogram’s mass, Saturn’s moon Dione and more.

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  6. Le Grand K
    Math

    It’s official: We’re redefining the kilogram

    In May 2019, the system of measurement will be upgraded to rely on fundamental constants.

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  7. Bernhard Riemann
    Science & Society

    Before his early death, Riemann freed geometry from Euclidean prejudices

    The originator of Riemann’s hypothesis died young, but he provided the geometry needed for modern view of spacetime.

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  8. Anshumali Shrivastava
    Artificial Intelligence

    Anshumali Shrivastava uses AI to wrangle torrents of data

    Computer scientist Anshumali Shrivastava is designing programs that can handle torrents of information quickly and efficiently.

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  9. color plot
    Math

    Here’s why we care about attempts to prove the Riemann hypothesis

    The Riemann hypothesis could hold the key to understanding prime numbers.

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  10. London’s Bethlem Hospital illustration
    Genetics

    The study of human heredity got its start in insane asylums

    ‘Genetics in the Madhouse’ reveals how human heredity research began as a statistical science in 19th century insane asylums.

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  11. illustration of numbers
    Math

    Real numbers don’t cut it in the real world, this physicist argues

    Physicist Nicolas Gisin argues that real numbers don’t properly represent the natural world, which is a good thing for free will.

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  12. Tropical Storm Harvey
    Math

    ‘Weird Math’ aims to connect numbers and equations to the real world

    The book Weird Math attempts to make chaos theory, higher dimensions and other concepts more relatable.

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