Mathematics Content

Solving the Moving Sofa Problem

Andy Fell — December 13, 2024 - 4:14pm

Korean mathematician Jineon Baek may have come up with a proof for a long-standing problem: What is the largest object that can fit around a corner of a certain size?

What Makes Math Real?

Jamie Sara Gelfond — March 15, 2024 - 10:30am

For �ٺ��Ƶ philosopher, Elaine Landry, thought experiments like ‘if a tree falls in the forest, will it make a noise?’ is one way to conceptualize how mathematicians and physicists think when they solve problems.

Using Machine Learning to Detect Coronavirus Threats

Andy Fell — July 25, 2023 - 3:17pm

An artificial intelligence model has successfully identified coronaviruses capable of infecting humans, out of the thousands of viruses that circulate in wild animals. The model, developed by a team of biologists, mathematicians and physicists at the University of California, Davis, could be used in surveillance for new pandemic threats. The work was published June 8 in Scientific Reports.

New Ways to Understand Collective Behavior

Andy Fell — February 10, 2022 - 2:26pm

When a flock of birds or a school of fish turn and act as one, they are exhibiting collective behavior. The same kind of behavior can be seen in something as simple as a group of cancer cells. Understanding how individuals can spontaneously act together in this way can give insights into biology from animal behavior to disease processes, as well as into phenomena such as traffic patterns.

Sloan Fellowships for �ٺ��Ƶ Mathematician, Neuroscientist

Andy Fell — February 16, 2021 - 1:30pm

Two faculty members at the University of California, Davis, have been named as 2021 Sloan Research Fellows by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Considered one of the most prestigious fellowships given to young researchers, the Sloan fellowship includes $75,000 over two years to support the fellow’s research.

Sloan Fellowship, NSF CAREER Award for Mathematician

Andy Fell — February 12, 2020 - 11:21am

Mathematics, College of Letters and Science, Laurels, Awards, Honors, NSF CAREER Award

C-STEM Schools Robotics Competition is Saturday

Andy Fell — May 15, 2019 - 10:48am

About 700 elementary, middle and high school students from schools across California will show off their skills in robotics and programming this Saturday, May 18 at the 2019 C-STEM Center RoboPlay Challenge Competition. The competition runs all day in the ARC Pavilion on the �ٺ��Ƶ campus and at University High School in Irvine.

Exotic Synchronization Patterns Emerge in a Simple Network

Andy Fell — March 07, 2019 - 1:13pm

From the power grid to the PTA, society relies on networks connected to other networks at scales from across the office to around the world. Understanding how connected networks behave and how breakdowns can be identified, prevented or repaired involves mathematics, engineering and physics.

Doing Without Dark Energy

Andy Fell — December 13, 2017 - 3:38pm

Three mathematicians have a different explanation for the accelerating expansion of the universe that does without theories of “dark energy.” Einstein’s original equations for General Relativity actually predict cosmic acceleration due to an “instability,” they argue in paper published recently in Proceedings of the Royal Society A.

Knotty Problems in DNA

Andy Fell — October 04, 2017 - 2:14pm

If you’ve ever tried to untangle a pair of earbuds, you’ll understand how loops and cords can get twisted up. DNA can get tangled in the same way, and in some cases, has to be cut and reconnected to resolve the knots. Now a team of mathematicians, biologists and computer scientists has unraveled how E. coli bacteria can unlink tangled DNA by a local reconnection process. The math behind the research, recently published in Scientific Reports, could have implications far beyond biology.