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Good news about Mathematics
Positive stories about Mathematics, gathered from the newsrooms Rally reads. Every headline links back to the publisher who reported it.
25 stories.
The ladder of knowledge
A logician’s work bridges math, philosophy, and computer science, advancing our understanding of how knowledge is structured. This research could help clarify complex systems and improve problem-solving tools. It’s a step forward for interdisciplinary thinking and practical applications.
Aeon
A unique shape, a 3D einstein tile, has been discovered
Researchers have found a 3D "einstein" tile, a shape that can cover space without gaps or overlaps. This discovery could help mathematicians and designers solve complex problems. The breakthrough shows how creativity and precision can lead to new scientific insights.
Scientific American
Colby Cosh: The mechanical monster storming through an ancient priesthood
AI has solved hundreds of longstanding mathematical problems, some unsolved for over a century, without human intervention. The breakthrough could accelerate research by resolving key theoretical questions. This marks a major step forward for both mathematics and artificial intelligence.
National Post
The most interesting mathematical discoveries in OpenAI’s 722 new papers
OpenAI has released 722 AI-generated papers tackling major and minor mathematical problems, offering potential advances in the field. The work could help researchers by shedding light on longstanding mysteries and overlooked curiosities. This burst of progress highlights AI’s growing role in pushing mathematical boundaries.
New Scientist
OpenAI announces 722 mathematical discoveries in one go
OpenAI has released 722 mathematical papers at once, proving and disproving a range of problems. Mathematicians are astonished by the scale and potential of this breakthrough, which could accelerate research and deepen understanding in the field. The sheer volume of discoveries marks a significant step forward in AI’s role in advancing mathematics.
New Scientist
OpenAI unleashes hundreds more math results upon a field already in shock
OpenAI’s latest model has solved more major math problems, building on its recent breakthrough. The results come without the high costs of its previous work, advancing the field and offering new tools for researchers. This rapid progress could accelerate discoveries across mathematics.
Scientific American
Mathematicians use AI to find mysterious symmetries, solving decades-old problem
Mathematicians and amateurs have solved a decades-old problem by identifying all 25,000 cases of a complex symmetry puzzle. Their work using AI helps researchers unlock deeper patterns in math, advancing the field. This breakthrough brings clarity to a long-standing mystery, offering new tools for future discoveries.
Scientific American
OpenAI forms math advisory group as its AI resolves more than 100 open problems
OpenAI has created an independent advisory group to give mathematicians a stronger voice in its research. The group, hosted at the Institute for Advanced Study, will help guide OpenAI’s work on math problems without slowing it down. This collaboration could lead to faster progress on open mathematical challenges.
TechCrunch
The Download: OpenAI’s turning point for math and a battery record
OpenAI’s AI agents have made progress on a major unsolved math problem, offering new hope for breakthroughs in the field. This advance could accelerate research and applications in science and technology, marking a significant step forward. Meanwhile, a new battery record suggests progress in energy storage, potentially improving sustainability efforts.
MIT Technology Review
OpenAI claims to have solved the 90-year-old Navier-Stokes math problem in 88 hours
OpenAI says its AI agents solved the long-standing Navier-Stokes problem in 88 hours, a breakthrough that could advance fields like fluid dynamics and climate modeling. While one mathematician questions the claim, the effort highlights AI’s potential to tackle complex mathematical challenges.
CNBC
I made a free AI chatbot solve a decade-long maths problem in 13 minutes
A free AI chatbot solved a decade-long math problem in just 13 minutes, helping mathematicians who had been searching for a unique set of dice. The breakthrough shows how AI can accelerate research, even in complex areas like probability. It’s a reminder of how technology can turn long-standing challenges into quick wins.
New Scientist
Mathematicians discover the worst way to hang a painting
Mathematicians have found a way to make hanging a painting even more complicated. Their work helps clarify the mechanics of simple systems, showing how small changes can have unexpected effects. It’s a fun reminder that even everyday tasks can reveal deeper truths.
Scientific American
Mathematician discovers how to fold the smallest origami doughnut
A mathematician has solved a decades-old puzzle by finding the most efficient way to fold a piece of paper into a doughnut. The discovery helps origami enthusiasts and mathematicians alike, offering a new understanding of geometric folding. It’s a small but delightful step forward in the art and science of paper folding.
Scientific American
Can AI make mathematics more human?
AI is reshaping mathematical work by making it more accessible and collaborative. Mathematicians like Yang-Hui He see this as a positive shift, as it helps researchers tackle complex problems in new ways. The change could make math more human by broadening its reach and impact.
Scientific American
Mathematicians make a breakthrough on Gauss’s riddle, unsolved for 200 years
Mathematicians have solved part of the Cohen-Lenstra conjecture, a 200-year-old puzzle about quadratic forms. The breakthrough helps resolve a long-standing mystery in the field, offering new insights to researchers. It’s a rare step forward in a notoriously difficult area of math.
Scientific American
The best public schools in HSC maths, ranked – and how one non-selective surprised everyone
Some non-selective public schools outperformed selective ones in HSC advanced maths, with Balgowlah Boys, Fairvale High, and Killarney Heights High leading the way. This shows that strong results aren’t limited to selective schools, offering hope and inspiration to students and educators. The full rankings can help families and schools learn from these successes.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Why winner of biggest prize in maths has decided to work on AI instead
A Fields medal-winning mathematician is shifting his focus to AI safety, recognizing the technology’s potential to transform lives—and its risks. His expertise could help ensure AI develops in ways that benefit everyone. The move highlights how urgent and impactful this work has become.
New Scientist
Math’s acclaimed ‘einstein tile’ finds a new home among physicists
An amateur mathematician’s discovery of a non-repeating "einstein tile" has captured physicists’ interest. The shape could offer new ways to explore patterns and materials, opening doors for practical applications. It’s a reminder that curiosity and creativity can lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
Scientific American
A.I. Disproves a Decades-Old Mathematical Idea, the 'Biggest Conjecture' That the Tech Has Played a Role in Yet
A mathematician used an AI model to disprove the Jacobian conjecture, a long-standing math problem. The breakthrough marks a milestone in research and highlights AI’s growing role in solving complex questions. It opens new possibilities for how technology can advance scientific discovery.
Smithsonian Magazine
How a 99-year-old mathematician unraveled a century-old braid mystery
A 99-year-old mathematician has solved a long-standing problem in braid theory, offering fresh insights into their geometry. The breakthrough helps researchers better understand complex structures and could inspire new mathematical discoveries. It’s a triumph of persistence and collaboration.
Scientific American
2026 Fields Medals go to four young mathematicians
The 2026 Fields Medals recognize breakthroughs in the math of messy fluids, tangled knots, spinning pencils, and more
Scientific American
Mathematicians are closing in on the hidden order inside chaos
Mathematicians have made progress in understanding the hidden order within chaotic systems, edging closer to solving a long-standing mystery. This breakthrough could help researchers better predict and manage unpredictable phenomena, offering new tools for fields like physics and engineering. It’s a step forward in unraveling the secrets of randomness.
Scientific American
Meet Sak Tahn Waax, a Maya Math Whiz Who Lived More Than 1,000 Years Ago and Left Behind a ‘Really Elegant, Complex’ Formula
Archaeologists have identified a Maya mathematician and astronomer from the Classic era, shedding new light on the individuals behind their advanced calculations. This discovery helps researchers better understand the culture’s sophisticated numerical achievements. It’s a reminder of the enduring brilliance of ancient minds.
Smithsonian Magazine
Hidden in a Guatemalan Ruin For 1,200 Years Was The Signature of a Maya Mathematical Genius
The Classic Maya period, from around 250-900 CE, is seen as something of a golden age for the civilization.
ScienceAlert
Mathematicians still don’t know the fastest way to multiply numbers
Elementary school students might memorize their times tables for single-digit numbers, but memorization won’t cut it when the teacher asks for three-digit multiplication. This requires an algorithm: students are taught to stack one number atop another and multiply each digit of the bottom number by
Scientific American
