Newsletter August 2016

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The Longest Proof in the History of Mathematics 07.20.2016 Mathematics Researchers use computers to create the world's longest proof, and solve a mathematical problem that had remained open for 35 years. Read the article “Come on, you Reds!” They Shouted in Ancient Games 08.04.2016 History As the Rio Olympics are about to begin, historian Jean-Paul Thuillier discusses the origins of the modern Olympic Games in ancient Greece and Rome. Read the article Solved: The Mystery of the Martian Moons 07.04.2016 Astronomy The aura of mystery surrounding Mars has long been intensified by its curious pair of moons: Phobos and Deimos, whose origins have remained clouded until now. Read the article Also this month EMS Prizes for French Mathematicians 07.18.2016 Mathematics French mathematicians Hugo Duminil-Copin and Vincent Calvez were awarded prizes by the European Mathematical Society (EMS), whose congress is being held this week in Berlin. Christoph Sorger, director of the National Institute for Mathematical Sciences and their Interactions, looks back at the very... Read the article When Gestures Improve Speech 07.25.2016 Communication What if the gestures we make when we speak do more than merely underline what we say? What if they also helped our oral expression? Convinced of the intimate connection between gestures and speech, two researchers launched a project to help people with Down syndrome express themselves more easily. Read the article How Many Sexes Are There? 08.01.2016 Biology and Social Sciences The issue of gender verification is not new to competitive sports. Yet how can we define biological sex? And how many sexes are there? As the 2016 Rio Olympic Games get underway, CNRS News explores this sensitive and complicated topic. Read the article The Viruses that Rule our Oceans 07.08.2016 Biology Every day, marine viruses kill 40% of our oceans’ bacteria. And yet these biological entities are still poorly known. For example, we still know little about their role in the regulation of microalgae, the first link in the food chain that also produces close to a quarter of our planet’s oxygen. We... Watch the video What Makes the Earth’s Mantle Flow? 07.20.2016 Geophysics By analyzing microscopic defects in the mineral that makes up 60% of the Earth’s mantle, researchers have uncovered what makes this solid rock flow. Read the article A Bias for Women in Science? 07.29.2016 Education Why are women underrepresented in most areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)? A common explanation is that there exists a hiring bias against women in those fields. Yet a recent study says otherwise. Read the article Who Built the Eiffel Tower? 07.13.2016 Engineering Since its construction, more than 120 million visitors from all over the world have marveled at the Eiffel Tower. Historian Bertrand Lemoine looks back at the career and achievements of its prolific builder, Gustave Eiffel. Read the article The Science of Cycling 07.25.2016 Physics One of best ways for cyclists to optimize their speed is to work on their riding position. The French Cycling Federation recently teamed up with researchers to help athletes improve these cycling positions. On your marks for a performance optimization session with France’s junior cycling team at... Access the slideshow

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