A new largest known prime number was found last month by an amateur mathematician, continuing a millennia-long quest to understand hidden patterns in the infinite tapestry of numbers.

Three groups of cicadas have emerged together this year for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. The reason is pure mathematics.

In 1843, William Rowan Hamilton had a four-dimensional flash of insight that still shapes our three-dimensional world.

Our modern lives are influenced by algorithms at every step. We can trace this influence back more than 1,200 years ago – to a Muslim mathematician.

A flawed paper shakes confidence in the foundations of ‘quantum-proof’ encryption – and highlights the need for a new generation of experts.

They are popular because they are popular, which is a circular argument that suits a pie chart. But there are some serious downsides to using the humble pie.

AI will not become sentient and decide to kill us all. But our own conscious or unconscious beliefs about AI can potentially increase the likelihood of any outcome, including catastrophic ones.

The logic of shared birthdays is stranger than you might think, but learning to understand counter-intuitive mathematics is key to seeing the world clearly.

The annual ritual of buying a gift for a random recipient opens a window onto some fascinating mathematics.

What are the odds of the end of humanity? There’s no real way to know.

Mathematical models, video games and experiments with ants can all further our understanding of the dynamics of war.

Humans have been making symbols for numbers for thousands of years. Different cultures developed their own symbols, but all use addition and multiplication, suggesting arithmetic is a universal truth.

Statistics show how a change of approach by England’s team marks a dramatic break with the history of Test cricket.