The ‘Lonely Runner’ Problem Only Appears Simple
Take a group of runners circling a track at unique, constant paces. Answering the question of how many will always end up running alone, no matter their speed, has vexed mathematicians for decades.
No One Is Quite Sure Why Ice Is Slippery
A thin, watery layer coating the surface of ice is what makes it slick. Despite a great deal of theorizing over the centuries, though, it isn't entirely clear why that layer forms.
Behold the Manifold, the Concept that Changed How Mathematicians View Space
In the mid-19th century, Bernhard Riemann conceived of a new way to think about mathematical spaces, providing the foundation for modern geometry and physics.