News
Mathematician wins 2026 Abel prize for solving 60-year-old mystery
2+ hour, 52+ min ago (377+ words) Gerd Faltings shocked mathematicians around the world for his 1983 proof of the Mordell conjecture, which brought together seemingly disparate mathematical fields Gerd Faltings has won the 2026 Abel PrizePeter Badge/Typos1 Gerd Faltings has won the 2026 Abel Prize, considered the Nobel prize…...
The success of machine mathematicians shows us how to be OK with AI
19+ hour, 52+ min ago (218+ words) Many people who try using AI are disappointed with the results and feel they can't trust a machine " but are there lessons we can learn from how AI is taking on mathematics? Have you ever received an email and had…...
Mathematics is undergoing the biggest change in its history
1+ week, 2+ day ago (772+ words) The speed at which artificial intelligence is gaining in mathematical ability has taken many by surprise. It is rewriting what it means to be a mathematician Are the days of handwritten mathematics coming to an end? Mathematicians have been taken…...
The secret to guessing more accurately with maths
1+ week, 6+ day ago (290+ words) What do a 20th-century physicist, an 18th-century statistician and an ancient Greek philosopher have in common? They all knew how to extrapolate with incredible accuracy. Columnist Jacob Aron explains how to combine their methods to improve your ability to guess…...
Human brain cells on a chip learned to play Doom in a week
2+ week, 5+ day ago (522+ words) Neuron-powered computer chips can now be easily programmed to play a first-person shooter game, bringing biological computers a step closer to useful applications A screen image of Doom being played by human neurons on a chip A clump of human…...
The maths quirk that can cheer you up if you're feeling unpopular
1+ mon, 1+ day ago (314+ words) If you feel like the least popular person among your friends, then a handy piece of maths might improve your mood, says Peter Rowlett Your friends are likely to have more friends than you do. Don't worry, it's nothing personal....
Jeff Goldblum should make a film about this legendary mathematician
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (418+ words) Paul Erd's was one of the most prolific mathematicians to ever live, known for showing up at the door of others in the field and declaring they should host and feed him while they do maths together. His radical life…...
Bored of snakes and ladders? Some maths can help bring back the fun
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (321+ words) While snakes and ladders is purely a game of chance, there is a way to add some strategy, says mathematician Peter Rowlett Does skill have any influence on the outcome when playing Snakes and Ladders?Sipa US/Alamy Have you…...
Letter: Why we can't escape the simulation
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (188+ words) Letter: Why we can't escape the simulation'New Scientist From Bernard Peek, Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK Some letter writers seem to have missed some of the implications of living in a simulation. It is provably impossible to detect that we are…...
Twisteddoodles: If AI had the skills (and the emotions) of an artist
1+ mon, 4+ week ago (44+ words) Twisteddoodles: If AI had the skills (and the emotions) of an artist'New Scientist More from New Scientist Explore the latest news, articles and features Natural ovulation the best option before an IVF frozen embryo transfer Stunning images reveal the rich…...