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A new proof reveals the answer to the decades-old “moving sofa” problem. It highlights how even the simplest optimization problems can have counterintuitive answers. The post The Largest Sofa You Can Move Around a Corner first appeared on Quanta Magazine
a month ago

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The Mysterious Flow of Fluid in the Brain

A popular hypothesis for how the brain clears molecular waste, which may help explain why sleep feels refreshing, is a subject of debate. The post The Mysterious Flow of Fluid in the Brain first appeared on Quanta Magazine

17 hours ago 1 votes
Three Hundred Years Later, a Tool from Isaac Newton Gets an Update

A simple, widely used mathematical technique can finally be applied to boundlessly complex problems. The post Three Hundred Years Later, a Tool from Isaac Newton Gets an Update first appeared on Quanta Magazine

3 days ago 3 votes
How Metabolism Can Shape Cells’ Destinies

A growing body of work suggests that cell metabolism — the chemical reactions that provide energy and building materials — plays a vital, overlooked role in the first steps of life. The post How Metabolism Can Shape Cells’ Destinies first appeared on Quanta Magazine

6 days ago 4 votes
How Did Multicellular Life Evolve?

One of the most important events in the history of life on Earth was the emergence of multicellularity. In this episode, Will Ratcliff discusses how his snowflake yeast models provide insight into what drove the transition from single-celled to multicellular organisms. The post How Did Multicellular Life Evolve? first appeared on Quanta Magazine

a week ago 5 votes
Is Dark Energy Getting Weaker? New Evidence Strengthens the Case.

Last year, an enormous map of the cosmos hinted that the engine driving cosmic expansion might be sputtering. Now physicists are back with an even bigger map, and a stronger conclusion. The post Is Dark Energy Getting Weaker? New Evidence Strengthens the Case. first appeared on Quanta Magazine

a week ago 6 votes

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The Mysterious Flow of Fluid in the Brain

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