Mathematics

A new study may overturn more than 100 years of accepted science about how the brain functions. Researchers applied a mathematical model to brain activity and found that brain function may have more to do with shape than connectivity.

A new shape has been discovered which would make for a pretty unique set of bathroom tiles. Nicknamed “the Hat,” the 13-sided shape can tesselate with itself without ever repeating a pattern, solving a 60-year-old mathematical mystery.

For the first time, UK researchers have used decades of information about sex to calculate a mathematical model for achieving sexual climax. They believe it can help with treating male sexual disorders. Ladies, your formula is coming up next.

The prevalence of prostate cancer around the world means that finding an effective treatment is critical. A new UK study has used mathematics to investigate the effectiveness of some currently available prostate cancer treatments.

Random numbers are crucial for computing, but our current algorithms aren’t truly random. Researchers at Brown University have now found a way to tap into the fluctuations of skyrmions to generate millions of truly random numbers per second.

Most of us can give Pi to four or five digits, but Swiss scientists have broken the world record. It took three and a half months and a data center’s worth of computer equipment, but the researchers calculated Pi to a staggering 62.8 trillion digits.

Researchers in Australia have made a discovery that may shake up the history of mathematics, revealing evidence of applied geometry being used for the purposes of land surveying some 3,700 years ago during the Old Babylonian period.

Do you have a brain for math? New research indicates levels of two key neurotransmitters can predict mathematics ability, suggesting brain chemistry may be playing a role in those who find math easy.

Researchers have found that bees can do basic arithmetic. The discovery that bees have the ability to add and subtract shows that the busy little insects are capable of a sophisticated level of cognition and proves once again that brain power isn't necessarily dependent on brain size.​

The immune system is incredibly complex, but most of us would probably assume that ideally it runs very precisely, like clockwork. However, a new study has found that a big dose of chaos is not just present but may be a necessary piece of the puzzle in helping the immune system regulate itself.

Eight computing machines spanning 80 years have competed in a race to find numbers in a mathematical sequence. An old WITCH machine and a modern iPhone were among the competitors of the Grand Digital computer race, but the clear winner was a BBC micro:bit with a 9 year-old coder as its "jockey."​

The largest prime number known has been discovered by the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS) citizen science project. It’s been dubbed M77232917 – and if you’re wondering why it needs a codename, well, we’d be here all day typing out the 23 million digits that make it up.