Quanta Magazine
@quantamagazine.bsky.social
Illuminating math and science. Supported by the Simons Foundation. 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. www.quantamagazine.org
In their first-ever collaboration, physicists Martin and Chris White proposed a way to detect a “magic” form of quantum entanglement. “They are identical twins [who] were moved very far apart, but are still in an entangled state,” mused a colleague. www.quantamagazine.org/particle-phy...
November 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
In their first-ever collaboration, physicists Martin and Chris White proposed a way to detect a “magic” form of quantum entanglement. “They are identical twins [who] were moved very far apart, but are still in an entangled state,” mused a colleague. www.quantamagazine.org/particle-phy...
While you’re socializing, your brain might be syncing up with those around you. Studies, including the Mutual Wave Machine experiment seen here, have shown that as people interact with each other, their brains can coordinate their activities. www.quantamagazine.org/the-social-b...
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November 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
While you’re socializing, your brain might be syncing up with those around you. Studies, including the Mutual Wave Machine experiment seen here, have shown that as people interact with each other, their brains can coordinate their activities. www.quantamagazine.org/the-social-b...
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Quantum information theory and particle physics are colliding at the Large Hadron Collider, and physicists are eager to explore the emergent field. “It’s like a gold rush right now,” said physicist Regina Demina. www.quantamagazine.org/particle-phy...
November 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Quantum information theory and particle physics are colliding at the Large Hadron Collider, and physicists are eager to explore the emergent field. “It’s like a gold rush right now,” said physicist Regina Demina. www.quantamagazine.org/particle-phy...
In 1936, Alan Turing conceived of hypothetical machines that could help mathematically model the process of computation. Built from just three parts, Turing machines can in principle compute the answer to any solvable problem. www.quantamagazine.org/amateur-math...
November 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
In 1936, Alan Turing conceived of hypothetical machines that could help mathematically model the process of computation. Built from just three parts, Turing machines can in principle compute the answer to any solvable problem. www.quantamagazine.org/amateur-math...
In 1874, Georg Cantor proved that there are different sizes of infinity. This unorthodox discovery kicked off descriptive set theory, a field that works to organize and define abstract collections of mathematical objects. www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-bridge...
November 25, 2025 at 11:08 PM
In 1874, Georg Cantor proved that there are different sizes of infinity. This unorthodox discovery kicked off descriptive set theory, a field that works to organize and define abstract collections of mathematical objects. www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-bridge...
Descriptive set theorists like Anush Tserunyan are the librarians of math. They seek to create order in an infinite menagerie of mind-boggling mathematical objects. Now, they have computer scientists’ more organized bookshelves to guide them. www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-bridge...
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Descriptive set theorists like Anush Tserunyan are the librarians of math. They seek to create order in an infinite menagerie of mind-boggling mathematical objects. Now, they have computer scientists’ more organized bookshelves to guide them. www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-bridge...
November 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The theoretical physicists Juan Maldacena and Ying Zhao helped create the “island formula,” a theoretical approach for exploring the interiors of black holes. When this method is applied to a whole universe, a puzzle emerges. www.quantamagazine.org/cosmic-parad...
November 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The theoretical physicists Juan Maldacena and Ying Zhao helped create the “island formula,” a theoretical approach for exploring the interiors of black holes. When this method is applied to a whole universe, a puzzle emerges. www.quantamagazine.org/cosmic-parad...
Renormalization is “the mathematical version of a microscope,” said Astrid Eichorn, a physicist at the University of Southern Denmark. Here’s how it works: www.quantamagazine.org/how-renormal...
November 22, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Renormalization is “the mathematical version of a microscope,” said Astrid Eichorn, a physicist at the University of Southern Denmark. Here’s how it works: www.quantamagazine.org/how-renormal...
For 48 years, physicists largely ignored a theory of gravity that was riddled with ghosts, nonsensical-seeming particles that have a negative probability of arising. Recent work by John Donoghue and Gabriel Menezes has helped reinvigorate the theory. www.quantamagazine.org/old-ghost-th...
November 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
For 48 years, physicists largely ignored a theory of gravity that was riddled with ghosts, nonsensical-seeming particles that have a negative probability of arising. Recent work by John Donoghue and Gabriel Menezes has helped reinvigorate the theory. www.quantamagazine.org/old-ghost-th...
In this picture, bubbles of methane, hydrogen and nitrogen rise up through standing water in the Soudan Mine in Minnesota. Water radiolysis is likely to have produced at least some of these gases.
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November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
In this picture, bubbles of methane, hydrogen and nitrogen rise up through standing water in the Soudan Mine in Minnesota. Water radiolysis is likely to have produced at least some of these gases.
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Microbes then use the hydrogen as fuel directly, while the remaining products create additional energy sources.
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November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Microbes then use the hydrogen as fuel directly, while the remaining products create additional energy sources.
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Sediments from lake beds like this one in Andøya, Norway, have yielded samples of DNA from diverse forms of life from thousands of years ago, most of which left no other surviving physical trace of their existence.
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November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Sediments from lake beds like this one in Andøya, Norway, have yielded samples of DNA from diverse forms of life from thousands of years ago, most of which left no other surviving physical trace of their existence.
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Fungi and bacteria help to break down dead organisms into their constituent molecules, contributing to systems including the water, nitrogen and carbon cycles.
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November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Fungi and bacteria help to break down dead organisms into their constituent molecules, contributing to systems including the water, nitrogen and carbon cycles.
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“Decay” is a word that shows up often in science. 🧵
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November 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
“Decay” is a word that shows up often in science. 🧵
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The Flammarion engraving, published in 1888, depicts an observer pushing through the horizon “where sky and the Earth touch,” according to its caption. Today, theoretical physicists peer into hypothetical universes and try to reconcile them with our own. www.quantamagazine.org/cosmic-parad...
November 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The Flammarion engraving, published in 1888, depicts an observer pushing through the horizon “where sky and the Earth touch,” according to its caption. Today, theoretical physicists peer into hypothetical universes and try to reconcile them with our own. www.quantamagazine.org/cosmic-parad...
Crater Lake is known for its vivid blue hue, an artifact of the lake’s remote and pristine conditions. To measure this clarity, each summer, freshwater scientists lower a black-and-white Secchi disc (right) and record the depth at which it vanishes. www.quantamagazine.org/mixing-is-th...
November 18, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Crater Lake is known for its vivid blue hue, an artifact of the lake’s remote and pristine conditions. To measure this clarity, each summer, freshwater scientists lower a black-and-white Secchi disc (right) and record the depth at which it vanishes. www.quantamagazine.org/mixing-is-th...
In 1977, Kellogg Stelle developed a particle theory of gravity. Unpopular at the time, it was only cited 10-20 times annually. Recently, the paper is getting fresh attention, accruing more than 150 citations each year. He died in October. www.quantamagazine.org/old-ghost-th...
November 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
In 1977, Kellogg Stelle developed a particle theory of gravity. Unpopular at the time, it was only cited 10-20 times annually. Recently, the paper is getting fresh attention, accruing more than 150 citations each year. He died in October. www.quantamagazine.org/old-ghost-th...
In the early 1930s, Jesse Douglas and Tibor Radó (pictured) independently showed that for any closed curve in 3D space, you can always find an area-minimizing 2D surface that has the same boundary. Douglas won the first-ever Fields Medal for the work. www.quantamagazine.org/new-proofs-p...
November 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
In the early 1930s, Jesse Douglas and Tibor Radó (pictured) independently showed that for any closed curve in 3D space, you can always find an area-minimizing 2D surface that has the same boundary. Douglas won the first-ever Fields Medal for the work. www.quantamagazine.org/new-proofs-p...
In winter, cold air can help stir the water in a deep lake. www.quantamagazine.org/mixing-is-th...
November 17, 2025 at 12:00 AM
In winter, cold air can help stir the water in a deep lake. www.quantamagazine.org/mixing-is-th...
These soap films are area-minimizing surfaces: They take up the smallest area possible. Area-minimizing surfaces show up in the study of cells and black holes, and even in the design of biomolecules.
www.quantamagazine.org/new-proofs-p...
www.quantamagazine.org/new-proofs-p...
November 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
These soap films are area-minimizing surfaces: They take up the smallest area possible. Area-minimizing surfaces show up in the study of cells and black holes, and even in the design of biomolecules.
www.quantamagazine.org/new-proofs-p...
www.quantamagazine.org/new-proofs-p...
Every summer since 1983, workers at Crater Lake National Park have gathered data about the lake’s famous clarity. The biologist Scott Girdner has led much of this work. When he retires, a hiring freeze will leave his position unfilled indefinitely. www.quantamagazine.org/mixing-is-th...
November 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Every summer since 1983, workers at Crater Lake National Park have gathered data about the lake’s famous clarity. The biologist Scott Girdner has led much of this work. When he retires, a hiring freeze will leave his position unfilled indefinitely. www.quantamagazine.org/mixing-is-th...
If you shift any input 𝑥 to -𝑥 in a function, then 𝑥² outputs the same value. Infinitely many functions satisfy this symmetry. Here are just a few: www.quantamagazine.org/behold-modul...
November 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
If you shift any input 𝑥 to -𝑥 in a function, then 𝑥² outputs the same value. Infinitely many functions satisfy this symmetry. Here are just a few: www.quantamagazine.org/behold-modul...
In 1854, Bernhard Riemann introduced a theory about how to study geometric spaces in any dimension. Most mathematicians at the time found his ideas to be too vague to be of much use. They are now a mathematical staple. www.quantamagazine.org/what-is-a-ma...
November 13, 2025 at 9:04 PM
In 1854, Bernhard Riemann introduced a theory about how to study geometric spaces in any dimension. Most mathematicians at the time found his ideas to be too vague to be of much use. They are now a mathematical staple. www.quantamagazine.org/what-is-a-ma...