Mathematics
Latest about Mathematics

World's oldest known decimal point discovered in merchant's notes from 1440s Italy
By Stephanie Pappas published
Decimal points are at least 150 years older than historians thought, according to newly unearthed notes from Venetian merchant Giovanni Bianchini, who practiced astrology in the 1440s.

How long is a second?
By Victoria Atkinson published
The length of a second depends on how you're measuring it.

Math's 'hairy ball theorem' shows why there's always at least one place on Earth where no wind blows
By Jack Murtagh published
Here's what the hairiest problem in math can teach us about wind, antennas and nuclear fusion.

Scientists uncover hidden math that governs genetic mutations
By Stephanie Pappas published
The ability of a gene to keep functioning despite mutations shows a surprising link to fundamental math.

Mathematicians finally identify 'seemingly impossible' number after 32 years, thanks to supercomputers
By Harry Baker published
Researchers have calculated the "ninth Dedekind number," which belongs to an exponentially complex series of numbers that define outputs of logical functions based on different spatial dimensions.

A 79-year-old mathematician may have just solved an infinite dimension puzzle that's vexed theorists for decades
By Nathan Brownlowe published
Mathematician Per Enflo, who solved a huge chunk of the 'invariant subspaces problem' decades ago, may have just finished his work.

Mathematicians end decades-long quest to find elusive 'vampire einstein' shape
By Paul Sutter published
Researchers have discovered a new 14-sided shape called the Spectre that can be used to tile a surface without ever creating a repeating pattern, ending a decades' long mathematical hunt.

Newly discovered 'einstein' tile is a 13-sided shape that solves a decades-old math problem
By Paul Sutter published
A new 13-sided shape is the first example of an elusive "einstein" — a single shape that can be tiled infinitely without repeating a pattern.

High school students may have just discovered an 'impossible' proof to the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean theorem
By Sascha Pare published
Two high school seniors have presented their proof of the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry — which mathematicians thought to be impossible — at an American Mathematical Society meeting.
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