Zero Is Foundational to Modern Mathematics. But It Was Rejected for Centuries
Conceptual problems, ideology clashes and xenophobia prevented the concept of zero from catching on for a long time. Today all mathematics is based on it
This Cutting-Edge Encryption Originates in Renaissance Art and Math
The mathematics underpinning the modern method of elliptic curve cryptography originated with Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi
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Prime Number Mystery Is Key to Magic: The Gathering Card Game Strategy
The popular fantasy card game Magic: The Gathering has a new card related to prime numbers. Now fans are trying to use it to tackle one of the biggest problems in mathematics
‘Chaos’ Angle Explains Why Pedestrian Traffic Snarls to a Stop
In general, crowds like to form lanes to get across—until too many people go in too many different directions
Alan Turing’s Lost Work Could Reveal How Tigers Got Their Stripes
The world-famous mathematician Alan Turing found a possible mechanism for iconic animal patterns thanks to differential equations
Mathematicians’ Favorite Shapes Hold the Key to Big Mathematical Mysteries
Mathematicians describe the most beautiful and beguiling forms and surfaces they know
Math Puzzle: Construct the Dice
Build a special set of dice in this math puzzle
Mathematicians Crack 125-Year-Old Problem, Unite Three Physics Theories
A breakthrough in Hilbert’s sixth problem is a major step in grounding physics in math
This More Than 380-Year-Old Trick Can Crack Some Modern Encryption
A little math from the 1600s can make what people send to a printer more vulnerable
Dennis Gaitsgory, Who Proved Part of Math’s Grand Unified Theory, Wins Breakthrough Prize
By solving part of the Langlands program, a mathematical proof that was long thought to be unachievable, Dennis Gaitsgory snags a prestigious Breakthrough Prize
Mathematicians Solve Decades-Old Spinning Needle Puzzle
For a long time, the Kakeya conjecture, which involves rotating an infinitely narrow needle, kept mathematicians guessing—until now
Mathematicians Find Proof to 122-Year-Old Triangle-to-Square Puzzle
A long-standing shape mystery has finally been solved