A spider, when knocked off a wall, doesn’t fall for long. Within milliseconds, it spins a soup of proteins into sturdy climbing gear. Using a thin, shimmering strand of silk, the spider hauls itself ...

For decades, astronomers treated the interstellar medium as a static backdrop to the goings-on of the universe. Now, a wave of 3D mapping is bringing the interstellar medium’s dynamic nature into ...

A new topological model connects a centuries-old voting paradox to a surface with no distinct inside or outside. Click to tell Google to prioritize Quanta and see more of the best coverage of science ...

To invade red blood cells, the deadly protists create temporary molecular portals that disappear behind them — doors we can now see in fine detail. Click to tell Google to prioritize Quanta and see ...

A healthy brain maintains a harmony of neurons that excite or inhibit other neurons, but the lines between different types of cells are blurrier than researchers once thought. Climate science is the ...

Steven Strogatz is a professor of mathematics at Cornell University, where he is the inaugural Susan and Barton Winokur Distinguished Professor for the Public Understanding of Science and Mathematics.