New Scientist: Researchers at the University of Oxford report in Current Biology that applying an electric current to a particular area of the human brain can improve mathematical abilities for at least six months. Roi Cohen Kadosh’s team applied transcranial direct current stimulation to the right parietal cortex while simultaneously using the opposite current to subdue activity in the left parietal cortex. “This isn’t going to turn you into a genius,” said Cohen Kadosh, “but it could be turned into a device to help children with poor numeracy skills improve their mathematical abilities.”
The finding that the Saturnian moon may host layers of icy slush instead of a global ocean could change how planetary scientists think about other icy moons as well.
Modeling the shapes of tree branches, neurons, and blood vessels is a thorny problem, but researchers have just discovered that much of the math has already been done.
January 29, 2026 12:52 PM
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