Math
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Math
If the world is a computer, life is an algorithm
Cellular automata may offer the algorithmic power to mimic the laws of physics and the evolution of life.
- Math
National Museum of Mathematics is antidote to math phobia
New York's National Museum of Mathematics offers a physical, tactile, even rambunctious presentation of math.
- Math
The Improbability Principle
The laws of mathematics and physics suffice to explain a world of coincidences, statistician David J. Hand argues.
- Math
Doctors flunk quiz on screening-test math
Many doctors, and the news media, don’t understand that because of the statistics of screening tests, a test with 90 percent accuracy can give a wrong diagnosis more than 90 percent of the time.
- Math
Our Mathematical Universe
Math is everywhere: medicine, sports, banking, gambling, National Security Agency espionage.
- Math
Goldberg variations: New shapes for molecular cages
Scientists have figured a way to iron out the wrinkles in a large class of molecular cages.
- Math
There’s something suspicious about using statistics to test statistics
The use of statistics to validate medical studies suffers from flaws of faulty assumptions.
- Math
To make science better, watch out for statistical flaws
Study denying that most medical research papers are wrong may turn out to be wrong.
- Science & Society
In a nuclear attack, there’s no avoiding the brutal math
Knowing a few key numbers could help save your life if a nuclear bomb drops.
- Math
Tomorrow’s catch
A biologist who formerly applied his mathematical talents in finance has developed new ways of predicting the ups and downs of fish populations.
- Computing
Materials’ light tricks may soon extend to doing math
A simulation paves the way toward metamaterials that can perform ultrafast complex mathematical operations using light waves.
- Math
Year in Review: Progress made toward twin prime proof
A surprising advance sparks a flurry of work on the mathematical conjecture.
