Rachel Crowell is a Midwest-based writer covering science and mathematics. Follow Crowell on Twitter @writesRCrowell
Mathematicians Come Up with ‘Mind-Blowing’ Method for Defining Prime Numbers
Using a notion called integer partitions, mathematicians have discovered a new way to detect prime numbers while also connecting two areas of math in an unexpected way
Mathematicians’ Favorite Shapes Hold the Key to Big Mathematical Mysteries
Mathematicians describe the most beautiful and beguiling forms and surfaces they know
The 9 Unsolved Mysteries Mathematicians Can’t Stop Thinking About
Mathematicians discuss some of the most compelling unsolved problems in the field
A Century-Old Question Is Still Revealing Answers in Fundamental Math
Mathematicians have made lots of recent progress on a question called the Mordell conjecture, which was posed a century ago
These Are the Most Beautiful Equations, according to Mathematicians
Mathematicians picked the most dazzling, thought-provoking and compelling equations they know
Math Can Help Solve Social Justice Problems
Mathematicians are working on ways to use their field to tackle major social issues, such as social inequality and the need for gender equity
How Quantum Math Theory Turned into a Jazz Concert
A mathematician and a musician collaborated to turn a quantum research paper into a jazz performance
New Wildlife Tracker Powers Itself as Animals Walk, Trot and Run
A battery-free GPS may change the game for tracking elusive animals
How Mathematical Objects Are like People and Other Mysteries of Intersection Theory
A Q&A with Hannah Larson, a recipient of the 2024 Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize
Mathematician Solves 50-Year-Old Möbius Strip Puzzle
A trapezoid was key to discovering the elusive answer to a riddle about Möbius strips
Science Shows Why Traditional Kimchi Making Works So Well
A new study reveals why handmade fermentation vessels called onggi stand the test of time
How Mathematics Can Predict—And Help Prevent—The Next Pandemic
Mathematician Abba Gumel uses calculations and models to prepare for future disease outbreaks
Why 2 Is the Best Number and Other Secrets from a MacArthur-Winning Mathematician
Mathematician Melanie Matchett Wood seeks creative ways of solving open math problems
Mathematicians Are Trying to ‘Hear’ Shapes—And Reach Higher Dimensions
An intriguing question about drums kicked off decades of inquiry
The Evolving Quest for a Grand Unified Theory of Mathematics
More than 50 years after the seeds of a vast collection of mathematical ideas called the Langlands program began to sprout, surprising new findings are emerging
Mathematicians Protest Russia Hosting Major Conference
For years, concerned researchers have been calling for a boycott of the 2022 International Congress of Mathematicians
Turbulence Equations Discovered after Century-Long Quest
The formulas describe the complex behavior of a liquid when it meets a boundary
New Math Research Group Reflects a Schism in the Field
Critics accuse the organization of opposing efforts to stamp out inequity
Disabled Astronauts Blaze New Space Trails
Efforts are underway to make space missions more accessible
Gnarly, Centuries-Old Mathematical Quandaries Get New Solutions
A set of puzzles called Diophantine problems are often simple to state but hard to solve—though progress could have big implications for the future of mathematics
Modern Mathematics Confronts Its White, Patriarchal Past
Mathematicians want to think their field is a meritocracy, but bias, harassment and exclusion persist
The Top Unsolved Questions in Mathematics Remain Mostly Mysterious
Just one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems named 21 years ago has been solved
Blood Test Allows Safer Turtle Sex Determination
A new process could help conservationists save imperiled species
Electrified Fabric Could Zap the Coronavirus on Masks and Clothing
New materials and coatings could make fabric inactivate or repel viral particles