News

  1. Math

    Searchers capture a champion megaprime

    A participant in the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search set the record for the largest known prime number, which runs to 4,053,946 decimal digits.

    By Ivars Peterson
  2. Tech

    Fly lends an ear to microphone design

    The unique way some flies localize sound has inspired engineers to design tiny directional microphones for hearing aids and surveillance devices.

    By Peter Weiss
  3. Health & Medicine

    Surprise! Fat proves a taste sensation

    The share of consumed fat that travels into a person's bloodstream depends on whether the person tasted fat to begin with.

    By Janet Raloff
  4. Health & Medicine

    Delayed surgery aids spinal cord repair

    Postponing surgery to repair a severed spinal cord in rats improves the likelihood that the operation will counteract the injury.