What Physical 'Life Force' Turns Biology's Wheels?

A powerful new 'QR code' untangles math's knottiest knots; A new type of neuroplasticity rewires the brain after a single experience; Quanta Podcast

Math and Science News from Quanta Magazine View this email in your browser QUALIA | ALL TOPICS   What Physical 'Life Force' Turns Biology's Wheels? By NATALIE WOLCHOVER The bacterial flagellar motor is finally understood after 50 years. In its workings, columnist Natalie Wolchover finds the essence of life. Read the article KNOT THEORY   A Powerful New 'QR Code' Untangles Math's Knottiest Knots By ERICA KLARREICH With a newly discovered mathematical tool, researchers are hoping to gain unprecedented insight into the structure of complex knots. Read the article NEUROSCIENCE   A New Type of Neuroplasticity Rewires the Brain After a Single Experience By YASEMIN SAPLAKOGLU "Neurons that fire together, wire together" is not the full story. A novel mechanism explains how the brain can learn across longer timescales. Read the article THE QUANTA PODCAST   Is String Theory Still Our Best Hope? Podcast hosted by SAMIR PATEL with NATALIE WOLCHOVER For decades, physicists have engaged in bitter back-and-forths over whether string theory is worth studying. The “string wars” aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Listen (Apple) | Listen (Spotify) Read the article Follow Quanta Unsubscribe | About Quanta | My Bookmarks Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact Us   Copyright © 2025 Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent division of the Simons Foundation Simons Foundation 160 5th Avenue, 7th Floor New York, NY 10010