Why the Key to a Mathematical Life is Collaboration Fan Chung, who has an Erdős number of 1, discusses the importance of connection — both human and mathematical. The post [Why the Key to a Mathematical Life is Collaboration][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-the-key-to-a-mathematical-life-is-collaboration-20250728/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-the-key-to-a-mathematical-life-is-collaboration-20250728/

RNA Is the Cell’s Emergency Alert System How does a cell know when it’s been damaged? A molecular alarm, set off by mutated RNA and colliding ribosomes, signals danger. The post [RNA Is the Cell’s Emergency Alert System][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/rna-is-the-cells-emergency-alert-system-20250714/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/rna-is-the-cells-emergency-alert-system-20250714/

New Method Is the Fastest Way To Find the Best Routes A canonical problem in computer science is to find the shortest route to every point in a network. A new approach beats the classic algorithm taught in textbooks. The post [New Method Is the Fastest Way To Find the Best Routes][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-method-is-the-fastest-way-to-find-the-best-routes-20250806/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-method-is-the-fastest-way-to-find-the-best-routes-20250806/

Earth’s Core Appears To Be Leaking Up and Out of Earth’s Surface Strong new evidence suggests that primordial material from the planet’s center is somehow making its way out. Continent-size entities anchored to the core-mantle boundary might be involved. The post [Earth’s Core Appears To Be Leaking Up and Out of Earth’s Surface][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/earths-core-appears-to-be-leaking-up-and-out-of-earths-surface-20250804/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/earths-core-appears-to-be-leaking-up-and-out-of-earths-surface-20250804/

Quantum Scientists Have Built a New Math of Cryptography In theory, quantum physics can bypass the hard mathematical problems at the root of modern encryption. A new proof shows how. The post [Quantum Scientists Have Built a New Math of Cryptography][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/quantum-scientists-have-built-a-new-math-of-cryptography-20250725/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/quantum-scientists-have-built-a-new-math-of-cryptography-20250725/

Why Did The Universe Begin? In this episode of The Joy of Why, Thomas Hertog discusses his collaboration with Stephen Hawking on a provocative theory arguing that the laws of physics evolved with the universe, and how this could have shaped a cosmos fit for life. The post [Why Did The Universe Begin?][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-did-the-universe-begin-20250724/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-did-the-universe-begin-20250724/

The Cells That Breathe Two Ways In a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park, a microbe does something that life shouldn’t be able to do: It breathes oxygen and sulfur at the same time. The post [The Cells That Breathe Two Ways][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-cells-that-breathe-two-ways-20250723/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-cells-that-breathe-two-ways-20250723/

AI Comes Up with Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work. Artificial intelligence software is designing novel experimental protocols that improve upon the work of human physicists, although the humans are still “doing a lot of baby-sitting.” The post [AI Comes Up with Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/ai-comes-up-with-bizarre-physics-experiments-but-they-work-20250721/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/ai-comes-up-with-bizarre-physics-experiments-but-they-work-20250721/

How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper Fundamental technique lets researchers use a big, expensive “teacher” model to train a “student” model for less. The post [How Distillation Makes AI Models Smaller and Cheaper][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-distillation-makes-ai-models-smaller-and-cheaper-20250718/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-distillation-makes-ai-models-smaller-and-cheaper-20250718/

A New Geometry for Einstein’s Theory of Relativity A team of mathematicians based in Vienna is developing tools to extend the scope of general relativity. The post [A New Geometry for Einstein’s Theory of Relativity][1] first appeared on [Quanta Magazine][2] [1]: https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-geometry-for-einsteins-theory-of-relativity-20250716/ [2]: https://www.quantamagazine.org https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-geometry-for-einsteins-theory-of-relativity-20250716/