2026 Fields and Abacus Medals Awarded

Plus: How fast is the universe really expanding? The organisms that make Earth’s harshest places home; New episode of The Quanta Podcast

Math and Science News from Quanta Magazine View this email in your browser 2026 FIELDS AND ABACUS MEDALS | ALL TOPICS   Fields and Abacus Medals 2026 By JORDANA CEPELEWICZ, BEN BRUBAKER, NATALIE WOLCHOVER, KONSTANTIN KAKAES & KEVIN HARTNETT Every four years, the math world’s preeminent awards are given to the finest minds of a generation. The young winners — all under 40 on the first day of the year — have reshaped mathematics and theoretical computer science. Here are their stories. Read the profiles THE JOY OF WHY   How Fast Is the Universe Really Expanding? Hosted by STEVEN STROGATZ with guest ADAM RIESS One of the biggest mysteries in cosmology seems to keep getting bigger. Listen (Apple) | Listen (Spotify) Read the transcript IMAGE GALLERY   The Organisms That Make Earth’s Harshest Places Home By JAKE BUEHLER Extremophiles that thrive in the most unforgiving environments aren’t just biological curiosities. Understanding their resilience has many implications. Read the article THE QUANTA PODCAST   Is Life Just Different? Podcast hosted by SAMIR PATEL with PHILIP BALL Living things have goals: to find food, to reproduce, and to survive. Are those just genetically programmed, or do organisms have actual agency? 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