The Hidden World of Electrostatic Ecology

We tend to think of neurons as the sole engine of our thoughts, emotions, and everything in between. For decades, a group of large brain cells called astrocytes have been thought of as mere packing peanuts for the brain. But new research suggests otherwise. On this episode of The ...  Show more

In 1874, Georg Cantor published one of the most important papers in math’s 4,000-year history. Some ideas in it were stolen. On this episode of The Quanta Podcast, the second of a two-parter, host Samir Patel speaks with math editor Jordana Cepelewicz about the fate of Cantor, th ...  Show more

The abstract numeral that changed everything, according to mathematician Talithia Williams. Before the introduction of zero, mathematics was a tangible subject, where numbers held weight and substance. With zero came the concept of a mathematical “nothing;” it turned our solid un ...  Show more

Humans are awesome. Our brains are gigantic, seven times larger than they should be for the size of our bodies. The human brain uses 25% of all the energy the body requires each day. And it became enormous in a very short amount of time in evolution, allowing us to leave our cous ...  Show more

When math is based on abstract concepts, how do we know it’s correct? Dr. Eugenia Cheng takes on that question in a new book.

The concept of math has been around for a long time, developing independently in many different cultures. In 1650 BC, the Egyptians were ...

L'idée que le Moyen Âge ait eu "peur du zéro" est un raccourci souvent utilisé pour décrire l'appréhension et les controverses entourant l'introduction du chiffre zéro en Europe médiévale. Mais cette "peur" est-elle réelle, ou bien s'agit-il d'une simplification historique ? E ...