In Seattle, a Convergence of 5,444 Mathematical Minds

In Seattle, a Convergence of 5,444 Mathematical Minds

The world’s largest gathering of mathematicians convened in Seattle from Jan. 8 to Jan. 11 — 5,444 mathematicians, 3,272 talks. This year the program diverged somewhat from the its traditional kaleidoscopic panorama. An official theme, “Mathematics in the Age of A.I.,” was set by Bryna Kra, the president of the American Mathematical Society, which hosts…

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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Hummingbird

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Hummingbird

Flower mites spend their lives slurping nectar and nibbling pollen in flowers throughout the tropics. To travel from one blossom to another, these tiny, eight-legged creatures hitch rides on the beaks of hummingbirds, taking shelter in the birds’ nostrils during flight. When a speedy hummingbird arrives at a flower to drink nectar, mites run toward…

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‘This Is a Dangerous Virus’

‘This Is a Dangerous Virus’

When bird flu first struck dairy cattle a year ago, it seemed possible that it might affect a few isolated herds and disappear as quickly as it had appeared. Instead, the virus has infected more than 900 herds and dozens of people, killing one, and the outbreak shows no signs of abating. A pandemic is…

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The Perfect Cacio e Pepe Recipe, According to Science

The Perfect Cacio e Pepe Recipe, According to Science

A group of Italian physicists has dared to tinker with the traditional recipe for cacio e pepe, the challenging Roman dish consisting of pasta, pecorino cheese and black pepper. In a new study, the scientists claim to have “scientifically optimized” the recipe by adding an ingredient: cornstarch. Cacio e pepe, which means cheese and pepper,…

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