math
Why the paradoxes of infinity still puzzle us today
Since at least 600 BC, people have been mesmerized by the concept of the infinite.
Golden Balls: How one man broke a UK game show using game theory
Game theory is a unique combination of math and psychology. Its applications turn up everywhere, from nuclear war to Tinder to game shows.
Time travel could be possible, but only with parallel timelines
Equations that describe time travel are fully compatible and consistent with relativity — but physics is not mathematics.
Can mathematics be spiritual? Ask Einstein
Mathematics and religion both embody awe-inspiring, eternal truths.
Machine learning predicts who will win “The Bachelor”
The researchers consumed a lot of wine while watching 15 seasons of the show.
Mathematicians suggest the “37% rule” for your life’s biggest decisions
When making any tough decision, the key is not to be overly exploratory or exploitative.
How the quadratic formula evolved, from Babylon to modern math class
The quadratic formula isn't just something that teachers use to torture algebra students. The Babylonians once used it to calculate taxes.
Poisson distribution: why scientists and media don’t understand clinical trial statistics
The Poisson distribution has everyday applications in science, finance, and insurance. To compare the results of some biomedical studies, more people ought to be familiar with it.
The ten greatest ideas in the history of science
The ten greatest ideas in science form the bedrock of modern biology, chemistry, and physics. Everyone should be familiar with them.
Symmetry is beautiful, but asymmetry is why the Universe and life exist
The Universe has asymmetries, but that's a good thing. Imperfections are essential for the existence of stars and even life itself.
Who was the smartest person in the world?
The smartest person in the world was Isaac Newton, a true polymath whose brilliance never has been, nor ever will be, surpassed.
Isaac Newton’s life was one long search for God
From physics and alchemy to theology and eschatology, Isaac Newton’s research was rooted in a personal pursuit of the Divine.
More math, more money: How profit-seeking has sparked innovations in mathematics
Math offers good evidence that humans can solve any problem — as long as there’s money in it.
How Zeno’s Paradox was resolved: by physics, not math alone
Travel half the distance to your destination, and there's always another half to go. Despite Zeno's Paradox, you always arrive right on time.
The better you are at math, the more money seems to influence your satisfaction
Those that were the best at math didn't even show income satiation — there was no upper limit to how much money could make them happy.
Pizza math: For the best price, you should always order the biggest pie
Pizzanomics isn't an official field of research, but it can save you big money.
From Ethel to Emma: Why are popular baby names and other fads always changing?
Humans seemingly have opposing desires to fit in and to be unique. The interplay between these might drive the evolution of fads.
Throughout history, pandemics allowed geniuses to flourish
Centuries ago, the plague forced people into quarantine for years. Isaac Newton and Galileo used the time to revolutionize the world.
How astronomers piece together surfaces of invisible alien worlds
From hellishly hot planets to water worlds, some distant planets are like nothing in our Solar System.
Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation”: Predicting the future with mathematical sociology
The "Foundation" series, recently adapted into a show by Apple TV, was inspired by a fascinating, real-life academic discipline.
What robots can learn from fish and fancy math
A new tuna robot leads the way to more agile underwater robots and drones.
Do we still need math?
We spend much of our early years learning arithmetic and algebra. What's the use?
Gamification: can video games change our money habits?
Fintech companies are using elements of video games to make personal finance more fun. But does it work, and what are the risks?
Bad at math? Blame your neurotransmitters
A new brain imaging study explored how different levels of the brain's excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters are linked to math abilities.
Thales: Ancient Greeks built the cosmos with right triangles
The ancient Greeks were obsessed with geometry, which may have formed the basis of their philosophical cosmology.
Will AI replace mathematicians?
If computers can beat us at chess, maybe they could beat us at math, too.
Hidden philosophy of the Pythagorean theorem
Pythagoras may have believed that the entire cosmos was constructed out of right triangles.
The foundations of mathematics are unproven
Philosopher and logician Kurt Gödel upended our understanding of mathematics and truth.
Math explains polarization, and it’s not just about politics
People often divide the world into "us" and "them" then forget about everybody else.