Washington Post: The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has just released the results of its third triennial survey of scholastic achievement in a selection of countries in Europe, North America, and East Asia. In reading, math, and science, the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai came out on top. By contrast, the US was ranked 17th, 31st, and 23rd in the same categories—just ahead or just behind the survey averages. The US results were mixed compared with the two previous surveys. Math scores were up since 2006 but little different from scores in 2003. Science scores improved since 2006.
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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