quanta magazine

Undergraduate Breaks Ground: How One Student Challenges a 40-Year-Old Data Science Theory

Undergraduate Breaks Ground: How One Student Challenges a 40-Year-Old Data Science Theory

In 1985, a computer scientist named Andrew Yao suggested a way to find elements in hash tables. He believed that ... Read more

Unlocking Insights: The Importance of Magic 8 Ball-Like Oracles for Computer Scientists

Unlocking Insights: The Importance of Magic 8 Ball-Like Oracles for Computer Scientists

Imagine asking a Magic 8 Ball a question. It might respond with “yes,” “no,” or one of its cryptic answers. ... Read more

Unlocking the Secrets of Life: How Scientists Replicate Conditions That Fueled Complex Organisms

Unlocking the Secrets of Life: How Scientists Replicate Conditions That Fueled Complex Organisms

Single-celled microbes are rarely loners. They thrive in complex environments like the ocean, soil, and our own guts. Here, they ... Read more