MATH

How Much Does Earth Cost?

Earth may be the most precious place we have, but it isn't priceless. We know because one scientist did the math.

Thomas Edison: a genius who struggled with math.

6 Famous Scientists and Inventors Who Struggled With Math

Some of the world's greatest scientists have struggled with math—just like the rest of us.

Did the Bouncing DVD Logo Ever Actually Hit the Corner of the Screen?

Dunder Mifflin employees aren't the only people curious about whether that now-iconic DVD logo ever really does hit the corner of the screen.

There's a reason gas stations never just round up.

The Reason Gas Stations Charge 9/10 of a Cent

The unusual fractional price you see at gas stations has roots in the Great Depression, but marketing is to blame, too.

19 Brilliant Facts About Albert Einstein

Once a simple patent clerk, Albert Einstein changed the world with his theories of special and general relativity.

The Origins of 7 Common Units of Measurement

Ever wonder why there are 5280 feet in a mile?

There are a few workarounds to the iPad’s lack of calculator.

Why Don’t Apple iPads Have a Calculator?

Apple’ s iPad is a versatile computing device that has pretty much anything a user could ever want—except a standard calculator. Here’ s why.

Sunset on Venice's Grand Canal is tough to beat.

The World’s 25 Most Beautiful Cities, According to Science

If the Golden Ratio is your metric, the most beautiful city in the world is in Italy.

Prepare to Be Stumped By This Math Problem Meant for Fifth Graders

Numbers are hard.

Look closely at a sunflower, and you'll see the distinct spiral in its center.

6 Fascinating Places to See the Fibonacci Sequence

Fibonacci developed his theory based on rabbit population growth, but you'll find the golden ratio in everything from flowers to outer space.

Can You Solve This Math Problem From MIT's 1876 Entrance Exam?

You don't need a ton of algebra knowledge to solve this math problem from MIT's 1876 entrance exam, but it helps.

Despite their tiny brains, honeybees might be stealth math prodigies.

Getting a Bee in Math: Honey Bees Can Distinguish Between Odd and Even Numbers

It's entirely possible the bee buzzing around in your yard is slightly better at math than you are.

The problem stumped both kids and adults.

No One Can Figure Out This Second Grade Math Problem

Adults are stumped. And they’re not happy about it.

Don't Forget to Celebrate 2/22/22 This 'Twosday'

The last week of February is packed with palindromes, the most anticipated of which is 2/22/22, or "Twosday."

100 Things We Learned in 2021

From really expensive NFTs to newly discovered shipwrecks to the latest developments in the world of K-Pop, here are a few things we learned in 2021.

Mt. Everest is nearly 5700 Danny DeVitos tall. That's a lot of DeVitos.

How Many Danny DeVitos High Is Mount Everest? The Omni Calculator Can Tell You That, and Other Weird Measurements

Plug a measurement into the Omni Calculator's Weird Units Converter and it will tell you what it is in Empire State Buildings, spaghetti strands, blue whales, and more.

You’re Grinding Your Coffee Too Finely—Science Says So

If you grind your coffee beans too finely, you may not be getting the most out of the product, according to one study.

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The Surprising Link Between an 1851 Chess Tournament and Today's March Madness Bracket

The modern chess set is named after Howard Staunton, a chess master who popularized its use. But his lasting contribution to sports might be in one that wasn’t even invented by the time he died in 1874.

11 of the Best STEM Toys for Kids of All Ages

Whether your kid is into robots, chemistry, or the wonders of slime, these STEM toys will make playtime more engaging.

New Spacecraft Named After Katherine Johnson Honors the Pioneering NASA Mathematician

A cargo craft delivering supplies to the International Space Station has been named after Katherine Johnson, the influential "human computer" who helped send the first Americans to space.

These seemingly random digits can tell you a lot.

What Do the Numbers on Barcodes Mean?

Barcode scanners don’t need to register the number below the barcode, but it can tell you a lot about a product.

Grad Student Solves the Conway Knot, a Math Problem That Has Stumped Experts for 50 Years

It took University of Texas grad student Lisa Piccirillo less than a week to write a proof that solved the famous Conway Knot.

5 People Who Were Amazingly Productive In Quarantine

It's not a myth: William Shakespeare really did write 'King Lear' during the plague. From Edvard Munch to Isaac Newton, here are a few more people who made the most of being isolated.

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Why Is There a Leap Day?

Happy leap year! You can thank Julius Caesar and his buddies for bringing them to Europe more than 2000 years ago.