Week in Science: What's math without mathematicians?

Plus, 25 years after 9/11 survivors are still getting sick                    

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September 11—This week, AI is running circles around mathematicians. Reporter Joe Howlett spoke to a few about how AI is prompting an existential crisis in the field, and what math could look like without humans. It’s a juicy read. Plus, 25 years after 9/11, survivors are still getting sick. We give you the numbers. A lot happened in the world of science this week! Take our Friday quiz to test your knowledge. —Emma Gometz, Newsletter Editor Have thoughts or feedback on our coverage? Email newsletters@sciam.com anytime.

Top Stories

25 years after 9/11, survivors are still getting sick—here are the numbers A quarter of a century after the Twin Towers fell, those who lived through the attacks are still seeking care for myriad illnesses, including cancers, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more Jackie Flynn Mogensen

If AI can do math, what’s the point of mathematicians? What happens when machines surpass the most brilliant human minds? Mathematicians are finding out Joseph Howlett

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AI may have just solved a million-dollar math problem. The field will never be the same A mathematician compared the feat to the history-making chess competition in which IBM’s Deep Blue computer beat Garry Kasparov in 1997 Joseph Howlett

Scientists unlock new clues to what a mysterious ancient human ancestor looked like An analysis of ancient bones found in a Chinese cave offer glimpses of how Denisovans lived more than 130,000 years ago Tom Metcalfe

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OpenAI claims blockbuster math breakthrough amid swirl of controversy Prior to the announcement, rumors were circulating online among mathematicians over the proof’s origins—OpenAI has denied all allegations Joseph Howlett

Was this record-setting encryption crack a fluke—or the new normal? A researcher’s social media post that revealed how to break part of a popular encryption protocol has gone viral. But did he really do it with just “good old paper and pencil”? Peter Hall

Something unique seems to be happening to the brain in menopause A new study finds sharp contrasts between brain changes in menopause and those during pregnancy and puberty Claire Cameron

Mathematicians discover the worst way to hang a painting New solutions found to picture-hanging problems Emma R. Hasson

The strangest sky in the galaxy The newfound star S301 orbits the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole so closely that its view of the heavens gets twisted Phil Plait

The planet Mercury is shrinking far faster than we thought The planet’s “wrinkles” give scientists a clue into how the world is contracting in size Mary Randolph

Music helps soothe the brain when we are stressed Music doesn’t just mask stress; it guides our brains back to a calm state Payal Dhar

Gray whales are washing up dead on the West Coast. The reason is alarming Up and down the Pacific coast, dead gray whales are mysteriously washing ashore—and scientists think they know why Ainslie Cruickshank

Indonesian volcano erupts with enough force to see from space NASA’s satellites captured the aftermath of the eruption, which lasted for more than a day Mary Randolph

2026 Ig Nobels honor cockroach milk, interspecies kissing, taunting venomous snakes, and more The silliest science awards of the year are here, but the Ig Nobels aren’t just funny business Adam Kovac

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