A new proof has brought mathematicians one step closer to understanding the hidden order of those “atoms of arithmetic,” the prime numbers. The primes — numbers that are only divisible by themselves and 1 — are the most fundamental building blocks in math. They’re also the most mysterious. At first glance, they seem to be… Continue reading Mathematicians Uncover a New Way to Count Prime Numbers
A Special Advent Message
Podcast: Download This is Dom Bettinelli, CEO of StarQuest, with a special message as we approach the Christmas season. Over the years, the StarQuest Network has continued to grow as a unique Catholic apostolate, bringing faith and culture together in ways that educate, inspire, and entertain. Shows like Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World, Secrets of Doctor Who, and… Continue reading A Special Advent Message
AI Analysis of Body Camera Videos Offers a Data-Driven Approach to Police Reform
A decade ago then president Barack Obama proposed spending $75 million over three years to help states buy police body cameras to expand their use. The move came in the wake of the killing of teenager Michael Brown, for which no body camera footage existed, and was designed to increase transparency and build trust between… Continue reading AI Analysis of Body Camera Videos Offers a Data-Driven Approach to Police Reform
After 2024 Losses, Hardball Democrat Lawyer Marc Elias Vows to Fight Back in ’26 and ’28
Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias had a rough election. Several of his clients, notably Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, fell to defeat. But instead of accepting their losses, Elias disputed the presidential and senatorial results in Pennsylvania, leading to charges that Elias, a self-advertised “democracy defender,” is what he’s accused Donald Trump of… Continue reading After 2024 Losses, Hardball Democrat Lawyer Marc Elias Vows to Fight Back in ’26 and ’28
Melting Glaciers Are Causing Billions of Dollars of Damage
This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network. BAKU, Azerbaijan—During 2024, the hottest year on record, snowpack in the Himalaya Mountains has plummeted to unprecedented lows, the Arctic has become a net carbon emitter, and once stable Antarctic sea ice appears to be permanently melting. The deterioration of the planet’s… Continue reading Melting Glaciers Are Causing Billions of Dollars of Damage
Nearly 4 Years Later, No Letup in Jan. 6 Prosecutions, Possible Pardons or Not
Even as President-elect Donald Trump promised on Sunday to act “very quickly” on pardons for many of the protesters involved in the events of January 6, the Biden administration’s Justice Department is continuing to arrest and try people for actions that occurred almost four years ago while opposing motions to delay trials because of the… Continue reading Nearly 4 Years Later, No Letup in Jan. 6 Prosecutions, Possible Pardons or Not
Teen Mathematicians Tie Knots Through a Mind-Blowing Fractal
Menger’s statement didn’t distinguish between homeomorphic curves. His proof only guaranteed, for instance, that the circle could be found in his sponge — not that all homeomorphic knots could be, their loops and tangles still intact. Malors wanted to prove that you could find every knot within the sponge. It seemed like the right mashup… Continue reading Teen Mathematicians Tie Knots Through a Mind-Blowing Fractal
Fish Have a Brain Microbiome. Could Humans Have One Too?
The human gut microbiome plays a critical role in the body, communicating with the brain and maintaining the immune system through the gut-brain axis. So it isn’t totally far-fetched to suggest that microbes could play an even larger role in our neurobiology. Fishing for Microbes For years, Irene Salinas has been fascinated by a simple… Continue reading Fish Have a Brain Microbiome. Could Humans Have One Too?
Nation’s Second Largest School District Revises Race-Based Grant Program
In August, the nation’s second-largest school district announced a major policy shift that caused the soon-to-be-unemployed minds at the Los Angeles Times editorial board to collectively explode last month. Why? Because in the wake of a federal civil rights complaint filed by Parents Defending Education in 2023, the U.S. Department of Education forced the Los… Continue reading Nation’s Second Largest School District Revises Race-Based Grant Program
The AI Pioneer With Provocative Plans for Humanity
Before he became a decorated pioneer of artificial intelligence, Raj Reddy grew up far from a computer lab. As a child in the 1940s, he lived in rural Katur, Andhra Pradesh, India. His one-room schoolhouse had no paper or pencils, so he learned to write letters in a plot of sand. On hot nights in… Continue reading The AI Pioneer With Provocative Plans for Humanity