Bizarre quantum bonds connect distinct moments in time, suggesting that quantum links — not space-time — constitute the fundamental structure of the universe.

The post Quantum Weirdness Now a Matter of Time first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Two leading candidates for a “theory of everything,” long thought to be incompatible, may be two sides of the same coin.

The post String Theory Meets Loop Quantum Gravity first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Computer scientists are abuzz over a fast new algorithm for solving one of the central problems in the field.

The post Landmark Algorithm Breaks 30-Year Impasse first appeared on Quanta Magazine

A new breakthrough that bridges number theory and geometry is just the latest triumph for a close-knit group of mathematicians.

The post Math Quartet Joins Forces on Unified Theory first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Nature offers species a panoply of ways to determine an organism’s sex. That flexibility suggests we need not be concerned about losing sex chromosomes, but it raises the question of why such a fundamental property is so variable.

The post The Incredible Shrinking Sex Chromosome first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Nature offers species a panoply of ways to determine an organism’s sex. That flexibility suggests we need not be concerned about losing sex chromosomes, but it raises the question of why such a fundamental property is so variable.

Scientists are homing in on a warning signal that arises in complex systems like ecological food webs, the brain and the Earth’s climate. Could it help prevent future catastrophes?

The post Nature’s Critical Warning System first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Scientists have begun to identify the symphony of biological triggers that powered the extraordinary expansion of the human brain.

The post How Humans Evolved Supersize Brains first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Scientists are homing in on a warning signal that arises in complex systems like ecological food webs, the brain and the Earth’s climate. Could it help prevent future catastrophes?

A newly discovered class of microbe could help to resolve one of the biggest and most controversial mysteries in evolution — how simple microbes transformed into the complex cells that produced animals, plants and fungi.

The post Mongrel Microbe Tests Story of Complex Life first appeared on Quanta Magazine