Two mathematicians have proved that a straightforward question—how hard is it to untie a knot?—has a complicated answer.
When counting squares in a grid, don’t stop at the smallest boxes; the bigger ones are hiding too. The rule is simple: In an n × n grid—where n is the number of squares both horizontally and ...
For years, a French mathematician searched for a proof that a gigantic number is prime. His method is still used 150 years ...
For over a decade, mathematicians have failed to agree whether a 500-page proof is actually correct. Now, translating the ...
Given a particle in Euclidean space, a central force is a force that points toward or away from the origin and depends only on the particle’s distance from the origin. If the particle’s position at ...
A new study suggests that, at least mathematically speaking, the idea doesn’t hold up, as some facets of reality can’t be explain purely algorithmically.
One fun personality test that can give you a little bit more insight into who you are as a person is the Cube Test, or Cube ...
Marijn Heule turns mathematical statements into something like Sudoku puzzles, then has computers go to work on them. His ...
In the wise words of Mr. Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin’.” It seems like every year, there are new rules and regulations for airline travel — planes are smaller, seats are tighter and the ...
The optical illusion challenge for the day is here. The task to complete this brain teaser on Reddit, which is now going ...
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has supersized the standard deduction for seniors. Starting with 2025 federal returns (filed in 2026), taxpayers 65 and older can claim up to $6,000 in addition to the ...