Algebra helps us navigate hard realities by making them abstract
In “Six Math Essentials,” algebra provides a set of tools for solving problems, from ancient Babylonia to household tasks of today.
Terence Tao on how AI math solutions miss the point
Terence Tao says mathematics is about understanding, not just right answers, and quick AI solutions are forcing soul-searching in the field.
Myth or math? Is the nautilus shell’s golden ratio real?
Grab a ruler, crunch the length-to-height ratios, and use the Fibonacci sequence to test whether this famous spiral is truly golden.
For Jennifer Chayes, math is a ‘native tongue’
Jennifer Chayes’ game-changing ideas in math and computer science helped pave the way for today’s innovations in machine learning and AI.
Creating ‘world models’ for robots + An AI math shakeup
How do you create a model to help AI understand the physical world? Plus, the latest AI-driven advancements in math.
Move over, vibe-coding. Vibe-proving is here for math
A few years ago, ChatGPT couldn’t do simple arithmetic. Now, some experts say that AI could make mathematicians obsolete.
Why does fashion repeat in 20-year cycles? Math has the answer
A mathematician analyzed 150 years of women’s fashion to understand 20-year trend cycles, and how “optimal distinctiveness” drives change.
We Asked What Maps You Love. Here’s What You Showed Us.
Maps aren’t just for navigation. They’re also about stories, identity, and our connections to the world around us.
How Math Helps Us Map The World
In “Mapmatics,” a mathematician tells the stories of how math helps us track epidemics, map the seafloor, and plot a complex delivery route.
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The Uncertain Science Behind What We Understand As ‘Truth’
In a new book, mathematician Adam Kucharski traces our relationship to truth, from the ancient Greeks to our AI reality.