Turbulent fluid flow is a persistent challenge in physics and engineering: it disrupts aviation and reduces the efficiency of wind turbines. In the body, disturbed blood flow can even contribute to problems in the circulatory system. Turbulence is also complex and unpredictable, so devising strategies to control it is notoriously difficult. Now, writing in Nature,
Credit: Science History Images/Alamy In just one month in the 1950s, Rudolph (Rudy) Marcus worked out the theory that for which he became famous. The Marcus theory of electron transfer predicts the rate at which an electron jumps from one molecule to another. This process is fundamental to molecular reactions, biological processes such as respiration
Shimamoto, D. S., Shimamoto, K., Mahmoudi, S. & Poincloux, S. Phys. Rev. X 16, 031006 (2026). Article Google Scholar Singal, K. et al. Nature Commun. 15, 2622 (2024). Article PubMed Google Scholar Spencer, D. J. Knitting Technology: A Comprehensive Handbook and Practical Guide 3rd edn (CRC Press, 2001). Google Scholar Sanchez, V. et al. Adv.
The four Fields Medal recipients are, from left, Hong Wang, Jacob Tsimerman, John Pardon and Yu Deng.Credit: Simons Foundation Mathematicians Yu Deng, John Pardon, Jacob Tsimerman and Hong Wang won the 2026 Fields Medal, one of the most coveted awards in their discipline. Their names were revealed today at the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM)
The Mayan temple of Tikal in Guatemala is about a day’s walk from Xultun, where researchers discovered mathematical formulas scrawled on the walls.Credit: Kryssia Campos/Getty A mathematical formula inscribed on a wall at the Mayan site of Xultún in Guatemala has revealed for the first time the name of an important Mayan mathematician and astronomer.
The top-performing artificial-intelligence model scored 6 out of 10 in the First Proof set of mathematical challenges.Credit: vitacopS/Getty Artificial intelligence has undergone its most scrupulous maths test yet. The results are in, and the AI models that took part didn’t live up to the problem-solving skills of top mathematicians. The test — part of a
