To make progress on one of number theory’s most elementary questions, two mathematicians turned to an unlikely source.

Each atom acts like a mini magnet with a north pole that points up or down. Mark Belan/Quanta Magazine If the atoms line up in some pattern — all pointing the same way, for instance — the material has ...

“And yet no human language seems to follow that kind of pattern.” Mark Belan/Quanta Magazine All of the impossible languages disrupted the linguistic structure of English to varying degrees, but apart ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Imagine standing on a railway platform watching a trolley go past. A girl on the trolley drops a bright red ball. To her ...

The chief operating officer of Quanta Services has resigned to spend more time with his family. The energy-infrastructure company said Tuesday that J. Redgie Probst's resignation, which took effect at ...

Firefighters in southern California are battling the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which have killed at least 25 people, burning ...

Resolution led me to rediscover the joy of a handheld magazine and the benefits that come with trading a few hours of reading ...

The engineering industry is playing an increasingly significant role in today’s tech-supported world. The demand for engineering solutions is increasing globally, and this trend is expected to ...

+ How poop could help feed the planet—yes, really. Read the full story.

Smithsonian magazine accepts unsolicited proposals from established freelance writers for features and some departments. This form has been developed to give you the most direct and timely access ...

When Lene was a child, she took comfort in a strange nighttime routine. While lying in bed just before she fell asleep, her bedroom would begin to warp, and her body would do so along with it. The ...