Strangely Curved Shapes Break 50-Year-Old Geometry Conjecture

By JORDANA CEPELEWICZ

Mathematicians have disproved a major conjecture about the relationship between curvature and shape.

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How do immature egg cells maintain genetic quality for decades before they mature? Scientists find unusual safeguards that may inform research into fertility.

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Related:
Cell by Cell, Scientists Map the Genetic Steps as Eggs Become Animals
By Jordana Cepelewicz (2018)

ALGORITHMS

Computer Scientists Invent an Efficient New Way to Count

By STEVE NADIS

By making use of randomness, a team has created a simple algorithm for estimating large numbers of distinct objects in a stream of data.

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Related:
New Breakthrough Brings Matrix Multiplication Closer to Ideal
By Steve Nadis

ATOMIC PHYSICS

He Seeks Mystery Magnetic Fields With His Quantum Compass

By CHARLIE WOOD

Alex Sushkov is updating an old technology with new quantum tricks in hopes of sensing the magnetic influence of dark matter.

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Related:
Dogged Dark Matter Hunters Find New Hiding Places to Check
By Lyndie Chiou

QUANTA SCIENCE PODCAST

In the Gut's 'Second Brain,' Key Agents of Health Emerge

By YASEMIN SAPLAKOGLU

Sitting alongside the neurons in your enteric nervous system are underappreciated glial cells, which play key roles in digestion and disease that scientists are only just starting to understand.

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