Quanta Magazine | Science and Math News
=======================================
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/)
DVDP for _Quanta Magazine_
Latest Articles
---------------
[geometry](/tag/geometry/)
[
### âOnce in a Centuryâ Proof Settles Mathâs Kakeya Conjecture
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/)
_By_ [Joseph Howlett](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/josephhowlett/)
â
[Comment
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/#comments)
The deceptively simple Kakeya conjecture has bedeviled mathematicians for 50 years. A new proof of the conjecture in three dimensions illuminates a whole crop of related problems.
[Read article](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/)
[Comment
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
â
_By_ [Joseph Howlett](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/josephhowlett/)
Get Quanta's Newsletter
Email
Subscribe
[The Road Map to Alien Life Passes Through the âCosmic Shorelineâ
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-road-map-to-alien-life-passes-through-the-cosmic-shoreline-20250312/)
[exoplanets](/tag/exoplanets/)
[
### The Road Map to Alien Life Passes Through the âCosmic Shorelineâ
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-road-map-to-alien-life-passes-through-the-cosmic-shoreline-20250312/)
_By_ [Elise Cutts](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/elise-cutts/)
[Comment
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-road-map-to-alien-life-passes-through-the-cosmic-shoreline-20250312/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
Astronomers are ready to search for the fingerprints of life in faraway planetary atmospheres. But first, they need to know where to look â and that means figuring out which planets are likely to have atmospheres in the first place.
[Why Do Researchers Care About Small Language Models?
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-do-researchers-care-about-small-language-models-20250310/)
[natural language processing](/tag/natural-language-processing/)
[
### Why Do Researchers Care About Small Language Models?
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-do-researchers-care-about-small-language-models-20250310/)
_By_ [Stephen Ornes](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/stephen-ornes/)
[Comment
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-do-researchers-care-about-small-language-models-20250310/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
Larger models can pull off greater feats, but the accessibility and efficiency of smaller models make them attractive tools.
[âNext-Levelâ Chaos Traces the True Limit of Predictability
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/next-level-chaos-traces-the-true-limit-of-predictability-20250307/)
[theoretical physics](/tag/theoretical-physics/)
[
### âNext-Levelâ Chaos Traces the True Limit of Predictability
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/next-level-chaos-traces-the-true-limit-of-predictability-20250307/)
_By_ [Charlie Wood](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/charlie-wood/)
[Comment
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/next-level-chaos-traces-the-true-limit-of-predictability-20250307/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
In math and computer science, researchers have long understood that some questions are fundamentally unanswerable. Now physicists are exploring how even ordinary physical systems put hard limits on what we can predict, even in principle.
[A New, Chemical View of Ecosystems
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-chemical-view-of-ecosystems-20250305/)
[ecology](/tag/ecology/)
[
### A New, Chemical View of Ecosystems
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-chemical-view-of-ecosystems-20250305/)
_By_ [Molly Herring](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/mollyherring/)
[Comment
1
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-new-chemical-view-of-ecosystems-20250305/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
Rare and powerful compounds, known as keystone molecules, can build a web of invisible interactions among species.
[](https://quantamagazine.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c)[](https://quantamagazine.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c)[](https://quantamagazine.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c)
Follow Quanta
[
Facebook
**Facebook**](https://www.facebook.com/QuantaNews)
* * *
[
**X**](https://twitter.com/QuantaMagazine)
* * *
[
Youtube
**YouTube**](https://www.youtube.com/c/QuantaScienceChannel)
* * *
[
Instagram
**Instagram**](https://instagram.com/quantamag)
* * *
[
RSS
**RSS**](https://www.quantamagazine.org/feed/)
* * *
[
**Bluesky**](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:vfktz6qe6vy7serr3wqutpzt)
* * *
[
Newsletter
**Newsletter**](#newsletter)
### The Joy of Why
[More episodes](/tag/the-joy-of-why)
* * *
[
#### New Conversations, Deep Questions, Bold Ideas in Season Four of âThe Joy of Whyâ
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-conversations-deep-questions-bold-ideas-in-season-four-of-the-joy-of-why-20250313/)
Your browser does not support the audio element.
00:00 / 17:56
[
APPLE
](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-of-why/id1608948873)[
SPOTIFY
](https://open.spotify.com/show/2FoxHraQSKwxV2HgUfwLMp)[
](https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dov[âŚ]b32-8c23-3b5419d65ce7/JOW_Season_Preview_Trailer_FinalMix.mp3)
Steven Strogatz and Janna Levin return for a new season on major scientific and mathematical questions of our time, with 12 all-new episodes and a new format.
* * *
[More episodes](/tag/the-joy-of-why)
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303/)
### [Years After the Early Death of a Math Genius, Her Ideas Gain New Life](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303/)
_By_ [Joseph Howlett](/authors/josephhowlett)
[](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303//#comments)
[](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303//#comments)[Comment
1
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
[The Physicist Working to Build Science-Literate AI
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-physicist-working-to-build-science-literate-ai-20250228/)
[Q&A](/tag/qa/)
[
### The Physicist Working to Build Science-Literate AI
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-physicist-working-to-build-science-literate-ai-20250228/)
_By_ [John Pavlus](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/john-pavlus/)
[Comment
2
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-physicist-working-to-build-science-literate-ai-20250228/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
By training machine learning models with enough examples of basic science, Miles Cranmer hopes to push the pace of scientific discovery forward.
[The âElegantâ Math Model That Could Help Rescue Coral Reefs
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-elegant-math-model-that-could-help-rescue-coral-reefs-20250226/)
[mathematical biology](/tag/mathematical-biology/)
[
### The âElegantâ Math Model That Could Help Rescue Coral Reefs
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-elegant-math-model-that-could-help-rescue-coral-reefs-20250226/)
_By_ [Max G. Levy](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/levymax/)
[Comment
1
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-elegant-math-model-that-could-help-rescue-coral-reefs-20250226/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
Physicists and marine biologists built a quantitative framework that predicts how coral polyps collectively construct a variety of coral shapes.
[New Maps of the Bizarre, Chaotic Space-Time Inside Black Holes
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-maps-of-the-bizarre-chaotic-space-time-inside-black-holes-20250224/)
[quantum gravity](/tag/quantum-gravity/)
[
### New Maps of the Bizarre, Chaotic Space-Time Inside Black Holes
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-maps-of-the-bizarre-chaotic-space-time-inside-black-holes-20250224/)
_By_ [Lyndie Chiou](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/lyndie-chiou/)
[Comment
14
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-maps-of-the-bizarre-chaotic-space-time-inside-black-holes-20250224/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
Physicists hope that understanding the churning region near singularities might help them reconcile gravity and quantum mechanics.
Past Week
### Most Read Articles
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/next-level-chaos-traces-the-true-limit-of-predictability-20250307/)
[
#### âNext-Levelâ Chaos Traces the True Limit of Predictability
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/next-level-chaos-traces-the-true-limit-of-predictability-20250307/)
_By_ [Charlie Wood](/authors/charlie-wood)
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-do-researchers-care-about-small-language-models-20250310/)
[
#### Why Do Researchers Care About Small Language Models?
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-do-researchers-care-about-small-language-models-20250310/)
_By_ [Stephen Ornes](/authors/stephen-ornes)
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/)
[
#### âOnce in a Centuryâ Proof Settles Mathâs Kakeya Conjecture
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/once-in-a-century-proof-settles-maths-kakeya-conjecture-20250314/)
_By_ [Joseph Howlett](/authors/josephhowlett)
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303/)
[
#### Years After the Early Death of a Math Genius, Her Ideas Gain New Life
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/years-after-the-early-death-of-a-math-genius-her-ideas-gain-new-life-20250303/)
_By_ [Joseph Howlett](/authors/josephhowlett)
Featured Videos
---------------
[See all videos](https://www.quantamagazine.org/videos/)
By clicking to watch this video, you agree to our [privacy policy.](/privacy-policy)
### Why Some People Donât âSeeâ Mental Imagery: Aphantasia
Christopher W. Young/_Quanta Magazine_
### Why Some People Donât âSeeâ Mental Imagery: Aphantasia
08:29
* * *
### How AI Cracked the Protein Folding Code and Won a Nobel Prize
22:19
* * *
### Space-Time: The Biggest Problem in Physics
19:41
* * *
### Searching for Dark Matter with a Tabletop âQuantum Compassâ
06:43
* * *
Special Features
----------------
### Multimedia
[More multimedia](/multimedia)
* * *
[The Thought Experiments That Fray the Fabric of Space-Time
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-thought-experiments-that-fray-the-fabric-of-space-time-20240925/)
[fundamental physics](/tag/fundamental-physics/)
[
### The Thought Experiments That Fray the Fabric of Space-Time
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-thought-experiments-that-fray-the-fabric-of-space-time-20240925/)
_By_ [Charlie Wood](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/charlie-wood/) +1 authors
[Mark Belan](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/markbelan/)
[Comment
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/the-thought-experiments-that-fray-the-fabric-of-space-time-20240925/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
These three imagined scenarios lead many physicists to doubt that space-time is fundamental.
* * *
[More multimedia](/multimedia)
### Recommended Features
[All articles](/archive)
* * *
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-tower-of-conjectures-that-rests-upon-a-needle-20230912/)
[
#### A Tower of Conjectures That Rests Upon a Needle
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/a-tower-of-conjectures-that-rests-upon-a-needle-20230912/)
_By_ [Jordana Cepelewicz](/authors/jordana-cepelewicz)
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-proof-threads-the-needle-on-a-sticky-geometry-problem-20230711/)
[
#### New Proof Threads the Needle on a Sticky Geometry Problem
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-proof-threads-the-needle-on-a-sticky-geometry-problem-20230711/)
_By_ [Jordana Cepelewicz](/authors/jordana-cepelewicz)
[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-number-systems-point-geometry-problem-toward-a-real-solution-20220726/)
[
#### A Question About a Rotating Line Helps Reveal What Makes Real Numbers Special
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-number-systems-point-geometry-problem-toward-a-real-solution-20220726/)
_By_ [Kevin Hartnett](/authors/kevin-hartnett)
* * *
[All articles](/archive)
### Quanta Podcast
[More episodes](/tag/quanta-podcast)
* * *
[neuroscience](/tag/neuroscience/)
[
### How the Human Brain Contends With the Strangeness of Zero
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-the-human-brain-contends-with-the-strangeness-of-zero-20241018/)
_By_ [Yasemin Saplakoglu](https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/yasemin-saplakoglu/)
[Comment
27
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-the-human-brain-contends-with-the-strangeness-of-zero-20241018/#comments)
Save Article
Read Later
Zero, which was invented late in history, is special among numbers. New studies are uncovering how the brain creates something out of nothing.
Your browser does not support the audio element.
00:00 / 17:19
[
APPLE
](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/quanta-science-podcast/id1021340531?mt=2&ls=1)[
SPOTIFY
](https://open.spotify.com/show/7oKXOpbHzbICFUcJNbZ5wF?si=jdnj9sTHSD2bj4hDMFLKEA)[
](https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/quanta-260_v1.mp3)
* * *
[More episodes](/tag/quanta-podcast)
About Quanta Magazine
---------------------
Illuminating basic science and math research through public service journalism.
[More about us](/about)
_Quanta Magazine_ is committed to in-depth, accurate journalism that serves the public interest. Each article braids the complexities of science with the malleable art of storytelling and is meticulously reported, edited and fact-checked. Launched and funded by the Simons Foundation, _Quanta_ is editorially independent â our articles do not reflect or represent the views of the foundation.
[More about us](/about)
The Quanta Newsletter
_Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox_
Email
Subscribe
[Recent newsletters](http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/home/?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c)
Close
Log in to Quanta
Use your social network
-----------------------
[Facebook Connect with Facebook](/mechanix?loginSocial=facebook)
[Connect with Google](/mechanix?loginSocial=google)
or
email
password
Remember me
Forgot your password ?
Don't have an account yet? Sign up
Close
Forgot your password?
Weâll email you instructions to reset your password
email
Close
Change your password
Enter your new password
Password
Retype new password
Close
Sign Up
First Name
Last Name
Email
Password
Retype Password
Creating an account means you accept Quanta Magazine's
[Terms & Conditions](/terms-conditions) and [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)
We care about your data, and we'd like to use cookies to give you a smooth browsing experience. Please agree and read more about our [privacy policy.](/privacy-policy)[AGREE](#)[DISMISS](#)