For the third time this year, a major problem in combinatorics has been solved. The new proof provides a way for mathematicians to answer questions about Ramsey numbers, quantities that measure when structure must emerge in graphs. https://www.quantamagazine.org/mathematicians-discover-new-way-to-predict-structure-in-graphs-20230622/

The mathematicians Kathryn Mann, Thomas Barthelmé and Steven Frankel have found a new way to distinguish Anosov flows, dynamical systems that can help reveal structure in chaos. https://www.quantamagazine.org/flow-proof-helps-mathematicians-find-stability-in-chaos-20230615/

“Embryo models” derived entirely from stem cells could transform developmental biology. Recent experiments with these embryolike constructs raise complex questions about what they are — and what their limits ought to be. https://www.quantamagazine.org/embryo-models-challenge-legal-ethical-and-biological-concepts-20230613/

A new measurement of the strong nuclear force, which binds protons and neutrons together, challenges our understanding of the nucleus. Theorists hope they can bring balance to the force. https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-experiment-casts-doubt-on-the-leading-theory-of-the-nucleus-20230612/

Chris German, a marine geochemist at Woods Hole and the leader of NASA’s Exploring Ocean Worlds project, has perhaps done more than anyone to explore hydrothermal vents. His work is helping inform the search for life on other worlds. “It never gets boring.” https://www.quantamagazine.org/ocean-vent-explorer-guides-nasas-look-at-icy-alien-worlds-20230607/

Gerrymandering is more sophisticated than it once was. Mathematicians are pioneering new ways to determine electoral fairness — and their work is ending up in court. https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-math-has-changed-the-shape-of-gerrymandering-20230601/

Skates are flat like a pancake but evolved from ancient sharklike creatures. Biologists have shown that the rays got their shape not from a simple gene mutation, but from a change to the 3D architecture of its genome. https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-3d-changes-in-the-genome-turned-sharks-into-skates-20230530/

A recent neuroscience study hints at how our brains distinguish between what we imagine and what we observe. https://www.quantamagazine.org/is-it-real-or-imagined-how-your-brain-tells-the-difference-20230524/

The recent discovery of the aperiodic hat tile inspired mathematicians around the world. In this month’s Quantized Academy column, Patrick Honner breaks down the basic concepts behind this beautiful pattern: https://www.quantamagazine.org/math-that-goes-on-forever-but-never-repeats-20230523/

A study led by researchers at UC Berkeley, the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University suggests that natural and artificial networks learn in similar ways, at least when it comes to language. Steve Nadis reports: https://www.quantamagazine.org/some-neural-networks-learn-language-like-humans-20230522/

Cryptography conceals the content of a message. Steganography conceals the fact that a secret exists at all. Human-generated media cannot hide messages with perfect security. A new proof shows that AI-generated media can. Stephen Ornes reports: https://www.quantamagazine.org/secret-messages-can-hide-in-ai-generated-media-20230518/

Snails are fairly simple creatures, but a recent study of their brains brings scientists a step closer to understanding the neural basis of long-term memory in higher-order animals like humans. https://www.quantamagazine.org/memories-help-brains-recognize-new-events-worth-remembering-20230517/

A process called magnetic reconnection may fuel some of the most rapid and powerful phenomena in the universe. Two recent papers detail the microphysics that may power these cosmic tantrums. Zack Savitsky reports: https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-tiny-physics-behind-immense-cosmic-eruptions-20230515/

As large language models continue to scale, they generally get better at their predictions — but continue to struggle with negations like “not,” “never” and “none.” Additional training probably won’t help. https://www.quantamagazine.org/ai-like-chatgpt-are-no-good-at-not-20230512/

As the leader of Mathematics for Humanity, a new grant program with ambitious goals, Minhyong Kim has no time for pessimism. In a conversation with Quanta, Kim discusses the ways in which math — and the stories we tell about it — can transform society. https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-plan-to-address-the-worlds-challenges-with-math-20230511/

Biologists have discovered that some ants can transform into parasites in a single generation. https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-mutation-turned-ants-into-parasites-in-one-generation-20230508/

A Turing machine cannot physically exist, but its reasoning laid the intellectual foundation for the invention of the electronic computer. Here's how they work: https://www.quantamagazine.org/alan-turings-most-important-machine-was-never-built-20230503/

The mathematicians Julian Sahasrabudhe, Simon Griffiths, Marcelo Campos, and Rob Morris have exponentially improved upon the upper bound of the Ramsey number, one of the most difficult quantities to calculate in all of mathematics. https://www.quantamagazine.org/after-nearly-a-century-a-new-limit-for-patterns-in-graphs-20230502

When AI is deployed in high-stakes situations, shouldn’t we know what’s going on under the hood? In a conversation with Quanta, Cynthia Rudin discusses her work proving that machine learning can be understood and interpreted by the humans who use it.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/cynthia-rudin-builds-ai-that-humans-can-understand-20230427

Biologists are learning more about how subspecies contribute to the survival of species. The insight brings hope for endangered plants and animals — and a question: When we try to save a species, what exactly are we trying to save? https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-pools-of-genetic-diversity-affect-a-species-fate-20230425/