Simons Foundation

@simonsfoundation

Advancing the frontiers of basic science through grantmaking, research and public engagement. Sign up for our newsletter: simonsfoundation.org/newsletter

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Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· 24d

Who was Jim Simons? Simons Foundation president David Spergel discusses our visionary co-founder in a recent interview with The New York Academy of Sciences. Watch full video: https://bit.ly/4vRBG62 #science #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· 26d

As part of our #InfiniteSums national math initiative, the Maine Discovery Museum's Gertrude “Trudi” Plummer developed a series of interactive math trails to help the local community see math as part of their everyday lives. Read our interview with Plummer: https://bit.ly/3QOxbdw #science #math

quote from Trudi Plummer: My hope is that the families understand that math is not just about homework or worksheets, and that they allow themselves to experience joy about the beauty of math.

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· 28d

"The Proof in the Code" author Kevin Hartnett on the importance of Lean, the proof assistant that is transforming math. Watch his full interview and learn more about his new book: https://bit.ly/4f8rkaV #math #science

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· 28d

More than a century after David Hilbert presented his 23 mathematical challenges, mathematicians have made significant progress — but there’s still much work to do. Which ones are solved, still unsolved or unsolvable? See the status of all 23 problems: https://bit.ly/4uTS30L #math #science

Collage of David Hilbert and mathematical problems.

In 1900, mathematician David Hilbert presented a list of 23 mathematical challenges to the International Congress of Mathematicians.These problems have become milestones in the field’s progress.

Hilbert’s problems aren’t so much finish lines at the end of a race as they are cracked doors inviting mathematicians to see what’s in the next room. For many of the problems, it’s difficult to say if they are resolved or still open.

Often, a question is resolved in one context but remains open in others.This open-endedness is part of the problems’ ongoing appeal to mathematicians.

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 10

Biologists at the @flatironinstitute.org are working to gain deeper and more mechanistic understandings of living systems by utilizing mathematical models. Most recently, researchers used this strategy to solve a mystery surrounding fruit fly sperm: https://bit.ly/4oKB2Vx #science #biology #math

quote from Mike Shelley: “What we are doing is kind of reintroducing curiosity-driven research, but combined with thinking about the way things happen mechanistically,”

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 10

Simons Foundation president David Spergel recently joined the New York Academy of Sciences podcast Shaping Science with Nick Dirks to discuss the unique role philanthropy can play in advancing bold scientific research. Watch the full interview: https://bit.ly/4vRBG62 #science #math #philanthropy

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 9

By studying the movements of individual fruit fly sperm, experimental and theoretical researchers at the @flatironinstitute.org were able to work together to understand the sperm's collective behavior: https://bit.ly/4oKB2Vx #science #biology #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 8

Author @kevinhartnett.bsky.social chats about the similarities between computer programs and math proofs in an interview with @quantabooks.org' @7homaslin.com about Hartnett's new book, "The Proof in the Code." Watch full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__ymd8Z50xM #math #science

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 7

As a Pivot Fellow, Axel Saenz Rodriguez moved from the realm of pure mathematics to applied quantum physics. In our recent interview with him, Saenz Rodriguez discusses the benefits of mentorship and the challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration: https://bit.ly/4a1pyGV #science #physics #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 6

A NASA Moon Tree is growing in NYC! We’ll be at Madison Square Park with solar telescopes to celebrate their Moon Tree Launch Party on July 16th at 12PM. Stop by to safely look into the sun, chat with researchers, and celebrate space here on Earth: https://bit.ly/3QVkKfY #science #space

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 3

Researchers at our @flatironinstitute.org were able to speed up molecular dynamics simulations — like this one — by applying a classical mathematical function: https://bit.ly/4oLYtgR #science #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 3

Hilbert's 23 problems are "the lifeblood of mathematics," according to mathematics historian Jeremy Gray. They include questions about the foundations of #math, number theory, geometry, analysis and algebra — and some remain unsolved to this day. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4uOGXtL

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jul 1

New @flatironinstitute.org research on fruit fly sperm helps explain their surprisingly organized behavior: https://bit.ly/4oKB2Vx #science #math #biology

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 30

What is Lean? Author Kevin Hartnett (@kevinhartnett.bsky.social) discusses the importance of the computer program, which is also the subject of his new book, "The Proof in the Code." Watch Hartnett's full interview with @quantabooks.org' Thomas Lin (@7homaslin.com): https://bit.ly/4eEnszp #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 29

What does it take to do science at scale? The International Brain Laboratory shows how large-scale scientific collaborations can be supported and how the model itself can be improved: https://bit.ly/44f83zq #science #neuroscience

“I think the InternationalBrain Laboratory showedthat you can do large-scale, reproducible and effective neuroscience across institutions allaround the world.”
Dan BirmanAllen Institute

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 29

Among Hilbert's famous 23 problems is the sixth one, which focuses on the axiomatization of physics. Mathematician Yu Deng will speak about this problem at #ICM2026 next month — read more and watch his full 2024 lecture: https://bit.ly/4uOGXtL #math #science #physics

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 28

Over 20% of the workload on the world's 500 fastest supercomputers is spent simulating how atoms and molecules move, but a new mathematical method from the @flatironinstitute is enabling these simulations to run 2.5 to seven times as fast: https://bit.ly/4oLYtgR #science #math #biology

An infographic titled “Speed Bumps” explaining a mathematical method that accelerates molecular dynamics simulations by smoothing electrostatic energy landscapes. The left side contains text describing three concepts: (1) a computational bottleneck, where simulations must calculate pairwise electrostatic forces among many atoms; (2) a jagged terrain, where positively charged atoms create sharp peaks and negatively charged atoms create deep valleys in the electric potential; and (3) a smooth operator, where a refined “bump function” smooths these spikes to make calculations easier and faster. On the right, a diagram of orange positive and blue negative atoms connected by lines illustrates pairwise attraction and repulsion between charged particles. Below, a graph compares a spiky electrostatic potential with sharp peaks and valleys to a smoother, wavy potential that approximates the same landscape while reducing computational cost.

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 26

In 1900, mathematician David Hilbert laid out 23 problems that he believed represented the future of #math. Now, 126 years later, Hilbert's problems are still relevant: https://bit.ly/4uOGXtL

quote from David Hilbert: "mathematics is the foundation of all exact knowledge of natural phenomena.”

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 25

A new mathematical model from @flatironinstitute.org biologists explains how fruit fly sperm avoid getting tangled up: https://bit.ly/4oKB2Vx #science #biology #FlatironCCB

Infographic titled “Super Organized Sperm” explaining how fruit fly sperm avoid tangling in a small storage sac. Text notes that fruit fly sperm are extremely long—about 1,800 µm, nearly the length of the fly and ~40× longer than human sperm—while the storage sac is only ~200 µm long. A diagram of a fruit fly highlights its reproductive organs. Another illustration shows the long sperm coiled tightly inside the much smaller sac. At the bottom, a schematic depicts multiple sperm packed side-by-side in tube-like arrangements, each undulating in opposite directions; this counter-directional motion helps them stay organized and prevents tangling.

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 23

Pivot Fellow Axel Saenz Rodriguez used his fellowship to transition from pure math to applied quantum physics, with the goal of developing more sustainable energy sources: https://bit.ly/4a1pyGV #science #physics #math

quote from Axel Saenz Rodriguez: "My long-term goal is to develop a nationwide network and community to address emerging needs on quantum information and technology"

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 22

Math is all around us — including in the beautiful game. Under the leadership of Kristen Martin Lai, The Tech Interactive is demonstrating how #math is woven into every aspect of soccer: https://bit.ly/4oH3urn #soccer #WorldCup #InfiniteSums

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 19

Soccer and math have more in common than you might think. The Tech Interactive's Kristen Martin Lai is making those connections tangible for fans during the World Cup and at San Jose Earthquakes games: https://bit.ly/4oH3urn #InfiniteSums #math #soccer #WorldCup

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 18

Mathematician Gervy Marie Angeles from the University of the Philippines Diliman received a Simons Foundation travel grant to attend the ICM meeting in Philadelphia this July for the first time. Read more about this program: https://bit.ly/4fqplAH #math #ICM2026

quote from Gervy Marie Angeles over a picture of her: “Most of all, I look forward to the serendipity that comes with these gatherings — the chance meetings and spontaneous exchanges — that no online interaction can really replace.”

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 18

We're honoring the memory and legacy of Peter Littlewood, a physicist, scientific leader and long-serving member of our board of trustees. https://bit.ly/3Sh5D0H

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 17

We brought together members of our Simons Collaboration on Computational Biogeochemical Modeling of Marine Ecosystems (CBIOMES) this week. #science #lifesciences

group photo of people sitting in an auditorium

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 17

“Turbulence” is the theme of our next Open Interval program, which supports trios of artists, scientists and arts organizations ready to think outside their disciplines: https://bit.ly/4uEMOC5 #science #art #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 13

We're hosting over 60 summer interns across the foundation and at the @flatironinstitute.org. Here's to a fun and engaging summer! #science #math

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 11

New research on the liver could help scientists develop treatments to reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in those unable to regularly exercise on their own: https://bit.ly/42XGSJ5 #science #aging #neuroscience

quote from Saul Villeda: "“One of the few interventions that is just tried and true, in that you know that it has an impact, especially on the brain, is exercise,”

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 10

@flatironinstitute.org physicist Marc Ritter and filmmaker Elsa Wong teamed up to create MOSS, a short film that explores feedback loops between our ideas and the natural world. Stream full film: https://bit.ly/4fxUsue #science #math #InfiniteSums #Symbiosis

Simons Foundation@simonsfoundation· Jun 9

New data from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration revealed two distinct types of black holes: small and slowly spinning ones vs. heavier ones that spin much faster: https://bit.ly/42XYmF1 #science #astrophysics