Quanta Magazine – Page 5

July 3, 2016

The Oracle of Arithmetic Works Best Without Writing Down a Thing

At 28, Peter Scholze is uncovering deep connections between number theory and geometry. The post The Oracle of Arithmetic Works Best Without Writing Down a Thing appeared first on WIRED.

June 17, 2016

The Mysterious X Boson Could Upend the Standard Model. If It Actually Exists

A lab in Hungary has reported an anomaly that could lead to a physics revolution. But even as excitement builds, closer scrutiny has unearthed a troubling backstory. The post The Mysterious X Boson Could Upend the Standard Model. If It Actually Exists appeared first on WIRED.

June 10, 2016

A Simple Proof From the Pattern-Matching Card Game Set Stuns Mathematicians

A new series of papers has settled a long-standing question related to the popular game in which players seek patterned sets of three cards. The post A Simple Proof From the Pattern-Matching Card Game Set Stuns Mathematicians appeared first on WIRED.

June 4, 2016

A Disk of Dark Matter Might Run Through Our Galaxy

In the new, free-for-all era of dark matter research, the controversial idea that dark matter is concentrated in thin disks is being rescued from scientific oblivion. The post A Disk of Dark Matter Might Run Through Our Galaxy appeared first on WIRED.

May 28, 2016

Mathematicians Bridge the Divide Between Infinity and the Physical World

A surprising new proof is helping to connect the mathematics of infinity to the physical world. The post Mathematicians Bridge the Divide Between Infinity and the Physical World appeared first on WIRED.

May 21, 2016

New Evidence Could Overthrow the Standard View of Quantum Mechanics

An experiment claims to have invalidated a decades-old criticism against pilot-wave theory, an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics that avoids the most baffling features of the subatomic universe. The post New Evidence Could Overthrow the Standard View of Quantum Mechanics appeared first on WIRED.

May 14, 2016

Meet Janna Levin, the Chillest Astrophysicist Alive

The astrophysicist, conceptual writer and host of standing-room-only scientific soirees at a repurposed factory in Brooklyn sees science as a powerful force in culture. The post Meet Janna Levin, the Chillest Astrophysicist Alive appeared first on WIRED.

May 8, 2016

Tiny Tests Probe for Dark Matter and Other Exotic Physics

Experiments that can fit on a tabletop are probing the nature of dark matter and dark energy and searching for evidence of extra dimensions. The post Tiny Tests Probe for Dark Matter and Other Exotic Physics appeared first on WIRED.

May 1, 2016

Your Simple (Yes, Simple) Guide to Quantum Entanglement

Quantum entanglement is thought to be one of the trickiest concepts in science, but the core issues are simple. The post Your Simple (Yes, Simple) Guide to Quantum Entanglement appeared first on WIRED.

April 23, 2016

Triangles in the Sky Tell the Story of the Universe’s Birth

The story of the universe’s birth—and evidence for string theory—could be found in triangles and myriad other shapes in the sky. The post Triangles in the Sky Tell the Story of the Universe's Birth appeared first on WIRED.