mathematics

Latest in mathematics

Two red cups under espresso machine as it brews coffee

Mathematicians figured out the perfect espresso

Over the shoulder view of child (8-9) using a pencil to practice handwriting the letters of the alphabet in cursive script

The 25 states still requiring kids to learn cursive

Timeline of dress fahsions by decade from 1960 to 2010

Clothes really do come back in style every 20 years

two pages of an ancient book. one has text while the other has an illustration of a saint

Long-lost page from Greek manuscript discovered in French art museum

By Margherita Bassi

Professional male musician creates new song for music album by playing synthesizer in studio. Top view at angle on head of bald man in headphones who sits at microphone and presses keys of synthesizer

Can’t stop humming that tune? Thank math.

Close up of hands playing chess, with white checkmating

Chess isn’t fair—so rearrange the pieces

Fibonacci spiral overlaid on cactus blossom

Break out the calculators: November 23 is Fibonacci Sequence Day

In 3D the kissing number is 12, as illustrated by basketballs. Illustration: Kira Vesikko / Aalto University

Human outsmarts Google DeepMind AI, solving centuries-old ‘kissing problem’

a september 2025 calendar with saturday the 27th circled in red

Why September 27, 2025 is the ‘coolest mathematical date of our lifetime’

By Margherita Bassi

A graphical representation of what a real Gerver’s sofa might look like.

This is the biggest sofa you can fit around a corner, according to a mathematician

Pythagorean theorum illustrated with triangle written in chalk on chalkboard

Forget Pi Day. Today is Pythagorean Triple Square Day.

$Hand writing 2+2=4 on chalkboard$

Human teens beat AI at an international math competition

Quantum Random Number Generator machine

Here’s how to generate a truly random number with quantum physics

Paper with equations scribbled on it

Mathematician solves algebra’s oldest problem

Bowling ball striking pins

How to bowl a strike—mathematically

Close up of hand holding pencil solving crossword puzzle

Why crossword puzzles get easier as you solve them, according to physics

a woman leading a dance rehearsal in the a studio

How the Rockettes use math to make holiday magic

By Laura Baisas

The first few hundred digits of the prime number M136279841

Man spent $2 million to find new largest prime number

Cross section of nautilus shell

Mathematicians define a new shape—and you’ve probably seen it

a circle and pi = 3.14 written on a chalkboard

Math teacher argues Pi Day should be July 22