Shi En Kim | Quanta Magazine

<!doctype html> <html lang='en'> <head> <meta charset='utf-8'> <meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width, initial-scale=1, minimum-scale=1'> <link rel='icon' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/themes/quanta2024/frontend/images/favicon.png' /> <link rel='apple-touch-icon' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/themes/quanta2024/frontend/images/apple-touch-icon.png' /> <title>Shi En Kim | Quanta Magazine</title>  <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/shienkim/" /> <meta name="description" content="Shi En Kim is a DC-based freelance science journalist who writes broadly about the sciences, technology and the natural world. She’s also a cofounder of the…" /> <meta property="og:type" content="profile" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Quanta Magazine" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Shi En Kim | Quanta Magazine" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Shi En Kim is a DC-based freelance science journalist who writes broadly about the sciences, technology and the natural world. She’s also a cofounder of the journalist-owned website Sequencer Magazine." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/shienkim/" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@QuantaMagazine" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Shi En Kim | Quanta Magazine" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Shi En Kim is a DC-based freelance science journalist who writes broadly about the sciences, technology and the natural world. She’s also a cofounder of the journalist-owned website Sequencer Magazine." /> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/#/schema/WebSite","url":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/","name":"Quanta Magazine","description":"Illuminating science","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/search/{search_term_string}/"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/#/schema/Organization","name":"Quanta Magazine","url":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/"}},{"@type":"CollectionPage","@id":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/shienkim/","url":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/shienkim/","name":"Shi En Kim | Quanta Magazine","description":"Shi En Kim is a DC-based freelance science journalist who writes broadly about the sciences, technology and the natural world. She’s also a cofounder of the…","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/#/schema/WebSite"},"breadcrumb":{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/#/schema/BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/","name":"Quanta Magazine"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Shi En Kim"}]}}]}</script>  <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Quanta Magazine » Posts by Shi En Kim Feed" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/shienkim/feed/" /> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.quantamagazine.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.6.2"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='co-authors-plus-coauthors-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-co-authors-plus-coauthors.is-layout-flow [class*=wp-block-co-authors-plus]{display:inline} </style> <style id='co-authors-plus-avatar-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar :where(img){height:auto;max-width:100%;vertical-align:bottom}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-coauthors.is-layout-flow .wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar :where(img){vertical-align:middle}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar:is(.alignleft,.alignright){display:table}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-avatar.aligncenter{display:table;margin-inline:auto} </style> <style id='co-authors-plus-image-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .wp-block-co-authors-plus-image{margin-bottom:0}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image :where(img){height:auto;max-width:100%;vertical-align:bottom}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-coauthors.is-layout-flow .wp-block-co-authors-plus-image :where(img){vertical-align:middle}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image:is(.alignfull,.alignwide) :where(img){width:100%}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image:is(.alignleft,.alignright){display:table}.wp-block-co-authors-plus-image.aligncenter{display:table;margin-inline:auto} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='privacy-consent-front-css' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/sf-privacy-consent/css/front.min.css?ver=6.6.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='fonts-css' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/themes/quanta2024/frontend/css/fonts.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='main-css' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/themes/quanta2024/frontend/dist/main.min.css?ver=1730911106' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='simple-favorites-css' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/quanta-favorites/assets/css/favorites.css?ver=2.3.4' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-json/wp/v2/users/62380" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <script> // Define dataLayer and the gtag function. window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} // Set default consent to 'denied' gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_storage': 'denied', 'ad_user_data': 'denied', 'ad_personalization': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': 'granted' }); </script>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-KZGMXJ7');</script>  <style> #postBody {--theme-text: #1a1a1a;--theme-accent: #ff8600;--theme-background: #fff;}.theme__text {color: #1a1a1a;}.theme__text-background,.flickity-page-dots .dot {background-color: #1a1a1a;}.theme__text-hover:hover {color: #1a1a1a;}.theme__background {color: #fff;}.theme__background-background {background-color: #fff;}.putz__inner,.theme__accent {color: #ff8600;}.theme__accent-background, .theme__accent-bg-hover:hover,.flickity-page-dots .dot.is-selected {background-color: #ff8600;}.theme__accent-hover:hover, .download-button * {color: #ff8600;}.theme__accent-hover-child:hover * {color: #ff8600;}.theme__anchors--underline a {box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), 0 1px 0 #1a1a1a;}.theme__anchors--underline a:hover {box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0), 0 1px 0 #ff8600;}.theme__anchors--solid a {color: #ff8600;}.theme__anchors--solid a:hover {color: #1a1a1a;}.theme__anchors--underline h2.large a {color: #1a1a1a;box-shadow: none;}.theme__anchors--underline h2.large a:hover {color: #ff8600;}.is-hover .card__title {color: #ff8600;}.text-1a1a1a,.text-1a1a1a:hover{color:#1a1a1a;}.text-ffffff,.text-ffffff:hover{color:#ffffff;}.text-999999,.text-999999:hover{color:#999999;}.text-fff986,.text-fff986:hover{color:#fff986;}.text-ff8600,.text-ff8600:hover{color:#ff8600;} </style> </head> <body class="archive author author-shienkim author-62380 "> <header class='nav fixed fit-t fit-l fit-r z9 '> <div class="relative z0"> <div class="mega fixed fit-x z0 bg-black transition-opacity duration-500 opacity-0 invisible" id="menu" role="menu"> <div class="mega__outer flex flex-items-center"> <div class="mega__inner pv2 transition-transform duration-500 transition-opacity ease-in-out -translate-y-10 opacity-0"> <div class="flex fill-h mha container--m"> <section class="outer flex scale0 fill-h"> <div class="flex flex-wrap flex-items-start align-c pv2 fill-h"> <div class="mega__logo relative mv1 fill-h align-c"> <a href="/"> <svg x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 353.5 49.5" enable-background="new 0 0 353.5 49.5" class='inline-block'> <title>Quanta Homepage</title> <g id="logo"> <path id="logo__mark" class='transition--color orange' fill="currentColor" d="M28.4,5.9c1,0,1.9-0.8,1.9-1.9c0-1-0.8-1.9-1.9-1.9c-1,0-1.9,0.8-1.9,1.9C26.5,5.1,27.3,5.9,28.4,5.9z M28.4,43.6c-1,0-1.9,0.8-1.9,1.9c0,1,0.8,1.9,1.9,1.9c1,0,1.9-0.8,1.9-1.9C30.3,44.5,29.4,43.6,28.4,43.6z M10.9,33.3 c-0.5-0.1-1-0.1-1.4,0.2c-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.9,1.1c-0.1,0.5-0.1,1,0.2,1.4c0.4,0.6,1,0.9,1.6,0.9c0.3,0,0.6-0.1,0.9-0.3 c0.4-0.3,0.8-0.7,0.9-1.1c0.1-0.5,0.1-1-0.2-1.4C11.8,33.7,11.4,33.4,10.9,33.3z M46.8,12.6c-0.5-0.1-1-0.1-1.4,0.2 c-0.9,0.5-1.2,1.7-0.7,2.6c0.3,0.4,0.7,0.7,1.1,0.9c0.2,0,0.3,0.1,0.5,0.1c0.3,0,0.6-0.1,0.9-0.3c0.4-0.3,0.8-0.7,0.9-1.1 c0.1-0.5,0.1-1-0.2-1.4C47.7,13,47.3,12.7,46.8,12.6z M47.3,33.5c-0.4-0.3-0.9-0.3-1.4-0.2c-0.3,0.1-0.6,0.3-0.8,0.5l-3.4-2 c0.2-0.5,0.2-1,0.1-1.5c-0.2-0.7-0.6-1.2-1.2-1.6c-1.3-0.7-2.9-0.3-3.6,1c-0.4,0.6-0.4,1.3-0.3,2c0,0.1,0,0.1,0.1,0.2l-6.3,3.6 c-0.5-0.6-1.2-0.9-2-0.9c-0.8,0-1.5,0.4-2,0.9l-6.3-3.6c0-0.1,0-0.1,0.1-0.2c0.2-0.7,0.1-1.4-0.3-2c-0.4-0.6-0.9-1-1.6-1.2 c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.2,0v-7.3c0.1,0,0.1,0,0.2,0c0.7-0.2,1.2-0.6,1.6-1.2c0.4-0.6,0.4-1.3,0.3-2c0-0.1,0-0.1-0.1-0.2l6.3-3.6 c0.5,0.6,1.2,0.9,2,0.9c1.5,0,2.6-1.2,2.6-2.6s-1.2-2.6-2.6-2.6s-2.6,1.2-2.6,2.6c0,0.3,0.1,0.6,0.2,0.9l-6.3,3.6 c-0.2-0.2-0.4-0.4-0.7-0.6c-0.6-0.4-1.3-0.4-2-0.3c-0.7,0.2-1.2,0.6-1.6,1.2c-0.7,1.3-0.3,2.9,1,3.6l0,0c0.3,0.1,0.5,0.2,0.8,0.3 v7.3c-0.3,0.1-0.6,0.1-0.8,0.3c-0.6,0.4-1,0.9-1.2,1.6c-0.2,0.7-0.1,1.4,0.3,2c0.4,0.6,0.9,1,1.6,1.2c0.2,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.7,0.1 c0.5,0,0.9-0.1,1.3-0.4c0.3-0.1,0.5-0.3,0.7-0.6l6.3,3.6c-0.1,0.3-0.2,0.6-0.2,0.9c0,1.5,1.2,2.6,2.6,2.6s2.6-1.2,2.6-2.6 c0-0.3-0.1-0.6-0.2-0.9l6.3-3.6c0.2,0.2,0.4,0.4,0.7,0.6l0,0c0.4,0.2,0.9,0.4,1.3,0.4c0.7,0,1.5-0.3,2-0.9l3.4,2 c-0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6,0,1c0.1,0.5,0.4,0.9,0.9,1.1c0.3,0.2,0.6,0.3,0.9,0.3c0.2,0,0.3,0,0.5-0.1c0.5-0.1,0.9-0.4,1.1-0.9 c0.3-0.4,0.3-0.9,0.2-1.4C48,34.2,47.7,33.7,47.3,33.5z M9.5,16c0.3,0.2,0.6,0.3,0.9,0.3c0.2,0,0.3,0,0.5-0.1 c0.5-0.1,0.9-0.4,1.1-0.9c0.5-0.9,0.2-2.1-0.7-2.6c-0.9-0.5-2.1-0.2-2.6,0.7c-0.3,0.4-0.3,0.9-0.2,1.4C8.7,15.4,9,15.8,9.5,16z M15.7,2.8c0.7-0.4,0.9-1.3,0.5-2c-0.4-0.7-1.3-0.9-2-0.5c-0.7,0.4-0.9,1.3-0.5,2C14.1,2.9,15,3.2,15.7,2.8z M41.1,46.8 c-0.7,0.4-0.9,1.3-0.5,2c0.4,0.7,1.3,0.9,2,0.5c0.7-0.4,0.9-1.3,0.5-2C42.7,46.6,41.8,46.4,41.1,46.8z M15.7,46.8 c-0.7-0.4-1.6-0.2-2,0.5c-0.4,0.7-0.2,1.6,0.5,2c0.7,0.4,1.6,0.2,2-0.5C16.6,48.1,16.4,47.2,15.7,46.8z M41.1,2.8 c0.7,0.4,1.6,0.2,2-0.5c0.4-0.7,0.2-1.6-0.5-2c-0.7-0.4-1.6-0.2-2,0.5C40.1,1.4,40.4,2.3,41.1,2.8z M55.3,23.3 c-0.8,0-1.5,0.7-1.5,1.5c0,0.8,0.7,1.5,1.5,1.5c0.8,0,1.5-0.7,1.5-1.5C56.7,24,56.1,23.3,55.3,23.3z M1.5,23.3C0.7,23.3,0,24,0,24.8 c0,0.8,0.7,1.5,1.5,1.5s1.5-0.7,1.5-1.5C2.9,24,2.3,23.3,1.5,23.3z M39.1,21.2c0.4,0,0.9-0.1,1.3-0.4c1.3-0.7,1.7-2.3,1-3.6 c-0.7-1.3-2.3-1.7-3.6-1l0,0c-0.6,0.4-1,0.9-1.2,1.6c-0.2,0.7-0.1,1.4,0.3,2C37.3,20.7,38.2,21.2,39.1,21.2z"></path> <path id="logo__quanta" class='transition--color orange' fill="currentColor" d="M309.9,14c0,1.1-0.9,1.8-2,1.8c-0.9,0-1.8-0.7-1.8-1.8c0-1.2,0.8-2,1.9-2C309.2,12,309.9,12.8,309.9,14z M85.5,28.7c0.6-1.3,0.8-2.6,0.8-4.2c0-2.9-1-5.2-2.9-7.1c-1.9-1.9-4.2-2.8-7-2.8s-5.1,0.9-7,2.8c-1.9,1.9-2.9,4.2-2.9,7.1 c0,2.9,1,5.2,2.9,7.1c1.9,1.9,4.2,2.8,7,2.8c2.7,0,4.9-0.9,6.8-2.6l2.6,1.7l2.2-3.3L85.5,28.7z M82.1,26.5L79.8,25l-2.2,3.3l2.3,1.5 c-1,0.7-2.1,1.1-3.5,1.1c-1.8,0-3.2-0.6-4.3-1.7c-1.1-1.2-1.6-2.7-1.6-4.6c0-1.9,0.5-3.4,1.6-4.6c1.1-1.2,2.5-1.7,4.3-1.7 c1.8,0,3.2,0.6,4.3,1.7c1.1,1.1,1.6,2.7,1.6,4.6C82.3,25.2,82.2,25.9,82.1,26.5z M103.2,27.3c0,1.2-0.3,2.1-0.9,2.8 c-0.6,0.6-1.5,1-2.5,1s-1.9-0.3-2.5-1c-0.6-0.6-0.9-1.6-0.9-2.8v-8.5h-3.9v9c0,2,0.6,3.7,1.7,4.8c1.1,1.2,2.5,1.7,4.3,1.7 c2.2,0,3.6-0.4,4.8-1.7v1.5h3.9V18.9h-3.9V27.3z M144.3,18.9c-2.2,0-3.6,0.4-4.8,1.7v-1.5h-3.9v15.4h3.9V26c0-1.2,0.3-2.1,0.9-2.8 c0.6-0.6,1.5-1,2.5-1c1.1,0,1.9,0.3,2.5,1c0.6,0.6,0.9,1.6,0.9,2.8v8.5h3.9v-9c0-2-0.6-3.7-1.7-4.8C147.4,19.5,146,18.9,144.3,18.9z M124.8,18.9v1.5c-0.8-0.8-2.7-1.7-4.8-1.7c-2.1,0-3.8,0.7-5.2,2.2c-1.4,1.5-2.1,3.4-2.1,5.7c0,2.3,0.7,4.2,2.1,5.7 c1.4,1.5,3.1,2.2,5.2,2.2c1.3,0,3-0.2,4.8-1.6v1.4h3.9V18.9H124.8z M123.6,29.9c-0.8,0.8-1.8,1.2-2.8,1.2c-1.1,0-2-0.4-2.8-1.2 c-0.8-0.8-1.2-1.9-1.2-3.3c0-1.4,0.4-2.5,1.2-3.3c0.8-0.8,1.8-1.2,2.8-1.2c1.1,0,2,0.4,2.9,1.2c0.8,0.8,1.2,1.9,1.2,3.3 C124.8,28,124.4,29.1,123.6,29.9z M180.1,18.9v1.5c-0.8-0.8-2.7-1.7-4.8-1.7c-2.1,0-3.8,0.7-5.2,2.2c-1.4,1.5-2.1,3.4-2.1,5.7 c0,2.3,0.7,4.2,2.1,5.7c1.4,1.5,3.1,2.2,5.2,2.2c1.3,0,3-0.2,4.8-1.6v1.4h3.9V18.9H180.1z M178.9,29.9c-0.8,0.8-1.8,1.2-2.8,1.2 c-1.1,0-2-0.4-2.8-1.2c-0.8-0.8-1.2-1.9-1.2-3.3c0-1.4,0.4-2.5,1.2-3.3C174,22.4,175,22,176,22c1.1,0,2,0.4,2.9,1.2 c0.8,0.8,1.2,1.9,1.2,3.3C180.1,28,179.7,29.1,178.9,29.9z M161.4,31c-1.1,0-1.9-0.7-1.9-2.1v-6.4h4.1v-3.2h-4.1v-4h-3.7v4v3.2v6.4 c0,3.7,2.1,5.5,5.3,5.4c1.1,0,2-0.2,3-0.6l-1-3.1C162.6,30.9,161.9,31,161.4,31z"></path> <path id="logo__magazine" class='transition--color gray2' fill="currentColor" d="M218.3,33.5l-0.1,1c-1.1,0-2.4-0.1-3.9-0.1c-1.5,0-2.7,0.1-3.6,0.1v-1c1.6-0.1,2-0.3,2-0.9 c0.1-0.8,0.1-2.4,0.1-5.1c0-4.4,0-4.9-0.3-5.4c-0.4-0.9-1.2-1.4-2.4-1.4c-1.6,0-3,1-3.7,2.3c-0.2,0.5-0.4,0.9-0.4,1.5v4.7 c0,1.3,0,2.6,0.1,3.4c0,0.7,0.4,0.9,2.2,0.9l-0.1,1c-0.9,0-2.5-0.1-3.9-0.1c-1.4,0-2.6,0.1-3.5,0.1v-1c1.6-0.1,2-0.2,2-1 c0.1-1.1,0.1-2.2,0.1-4.4v-2.8c0-2.4,0-2.8-0.2-3.3c-0.4-0.9-1.1-1.3-2.3-1.3c-1.5,0-3,0.9-3.8,2.4c-0.3,0.6-0.4,0.9-0.4,1.7v4.6 c0,1.4,0,2.5,0.1,3.3c0.1,0.7,0.4,0.8,2.1,0.9l-0.1,0.9c-0.8,0-2.5-0.1-3.8-0.1c-1.3,0-2.6,0.1-3.7,0.1v-1c1.8,0,2.1-0.2,2.1-1 c0-0.9,0.1-2.3,0.1-4.2v-2.9c0-1.9,0-3.4-0.1-4.3c0-0.5-0.3-0.6-2.2-0.6l0.1-0.9c1.7,0,3.6-0.2,5.2-0.5c0.1,0.6,0.2,2.2,0.2,2.7 c1.3-1.3,3.2-2.9,5.7-2.9c2,0,2.9,0.8,3.4,1.5c0.3,0.4,0.5,0.9,0.6,1.3c1.2-1.2,3-2.8,5.7-2.8c2.1,0,3.3,1.1,3.8,2 c0.4,0.7,0.5,1.5,0.5,2.3v9.4C216,33.3,216.2,33.4,218.3,33.5z M238.4,31l0.9,0.4c-0.5,2.5-1.9,3.4-3.5,3.4c-1.8,0-2.5-1.1-2.7-2.6 c-1.5,1.7-3.4,2.6-5,2.6c-2.7,0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3c0-1.4,0.6-2.6,2-3.2c2.4-1,6-2.1,7.4-3.1v-1.4c0-1.5-0.7-3-2.7-3 c-2.1,0-3,1.1-3,2.5c0,0.4,0.1,0.8,0.1,1.1c0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.7c-0.3,0.2-0.7,0.4-1.2,0.4c-0.8,0-1.5-0.4-1.5-1.6 c0-1.8,2.6-4.1,6.4-4.1c3,0,4.3,1.3,4.7,2c0.3,0.5,0.5,1.2,0.5,1.8v8.9c0,1.3,0.4,1.5,0.8,1.5C237.5,33.1,238,32.4,238.4,31z M233,25.3c-1,0.5-2.8,1.3-4.1,2c-1.1,0.6-1.8,1.1-1.8,2.7c0,1.7,0.9,3,2.5,3c1.7,0,2.7-1,3.3-2.3c0.1-0.4,0.2-1,0.2-1.5V25.3z M255.8,27.1c-1.3,0-2.8-0.1-3.7-0.1l0,0.9l1.5,0.1c1.2,0.1,1.4,0.3,1.4,1.3c0,1,0,2.4-0.1,3.2c-0.1,0.8-1.1,1.3-2.5,1.3 c-1.5,0-2.8-0.5-3.8-1.8c-0.9-1.1-1.3-3.1-1.3-5.1c0-2.2,0.5-3.9,1.4-5.1c0.8-1.2,2-1.8,3.5-1.8c2.6,0,4.1,1.7,4.4,5l0.9,0 c-0.1-2.1,0.2-4.8,0.4-5.7l-0.8-0.3l-0.5,1.3c-0.5-0.5-1.8-1.4-4.3-1.4c-1.6,0-3,0.3-4.2,1c-2.4,1.3-3.8,3.9-3.8,7 c0,2.4,0.6,4.2,1.7,5.5c1.2,1.5,3.2,2.3,6.1,2.3c1.2,0,2.5-0.3,3.6-0.6c1-0.3,1.8-0.6,2.4-0.7c-0.1-0.5-0.2-1.3-0.2-2.5 c0-0.7,0-1.7,0.1-2.3c0-0.5,0.3-0.6,1.5-0.8l0-0.9C258.4,27.1,257.1,27.1,255.8,27.1z M279.4,31l0.9,0.4c-0.5,2.5-1.9,3.4-3.5,3.4 c-1.8,0-2.5-1.1-2.7-2.6c-1.5,1.7-3.4,2.6-5,2.6c-2.7,0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3c0-1.4,0.6-2.6,2-3.2c2.4-1,6-2.1,7.4-3.1v-1.4 c0-1.5-0.7-3-2.7-3c-2.1,0-3,1.1-3,2.5c0,0.4,0.1,0.8,0.1,1.1c0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.7c-0.3,0.2-0.7,0.4-1.2,0.4 c-0.8,0-1.5-0.4-1.5-1.6c0-1.8,2.6-4.1,6.4-4.1c3,0,4.3,1.3,4.7,2c0.3,0.5,0.5,1.2,0.5,1.8v8.9c0,1.3,0.4,1.5,0.8,1.5 C278.5,33.1,279,32.4,279.4,31z M274,25.3c-1,0.5-2.8,1.3-4.1,2c-1.1,0.6-1.8,1.1-1.8,2.7c0,1.7,0.9,3,2.5,3c1.7,0,2.7-1,3.3-2.3 c0.1-0.4,0.2-1,0.2-1.5V25.3z M295.1,33c-1,0.2-2.8,0.3-5.6,0.3c1.8-2.8,7.1-10.8,7.9-12c0.4-0.7,0.8-1.4,0.9-2.1 c-1.4,0-2.6,0.1-5.3,0.1h-3c-2,0-3.2-0.1-3.8-0.4c0,2.1-0.2,4.4-0.4,5.8l0.9-0.2c0.2-0.8,0.4-1.7,0.7-2.6c0.4-1.1,0.9-1.4,2.4-1.5 c1.4-0.1,2.9-0.1,4.4-0.1c-0.9,1.8-5.2,8.8-9,13.4l0.4,0.7c0.6,0,1.7-0.1,3.7-0.1c3.8,0,7.8,0.1,9.1,0.2c0.1-1.6,0.4-4.3,0.6-5.8 l-0.9-0.2C297.3,32,296.5,32.9,295.1,33z M309.9,32.5c0-0.7-0.1-1.9-0.1-4.1v-4.1c0-2.6,0.1-4.6,0.1-5.4c-1.6,0.4-3.9,0.5-5.6,0.6 l0,0.9c1.9-0.1,2.2,0,2.2,0.5c0,0.5,0.1,1.7,0.1,3.6v3.9c0,2-0.1,3.5-0.1,4.1c0,0.6-0.3,0.9-2.4,1l0,1c1.1,0,2.1-0.1,3.8-0.1 c1.7,0,3,0.1,4,0.1l0-1C310.3,33.4,309.9,33.3,309.9,32.5z M332.9,32.5v-9.3c0-0.8-0.1-1.6-0.5-2.2c-0.5-1.1-1.7-2.1-4-2.1 c-2.5,0-4.2,1.5-5.5,2.7c0-0.5-0.1-1.9-0.2-2.6c-1.6,0.3-3.4,0.5-5.1,0.5l-0.1,0.9c1.8,0,2.1,0.1,2.1,0.6c0.1,0.9,0.1,2.4,0.1,4.3 v3.1c0,1.7-0.1,3-0.1,4c0,0.8-0.3,0.9-2.1,1v1c1,0,2.2-0.1,3.7-0.1c1.3,0,3,0.1,3.9,0.1l0.1-1c-1.8-0.1-2.1-0.2-2.1-0.9 c-0.1-0.8-0.1-2.2-0.1-3.7v-4.1c0-0.8,0.1-1.3,0.4-1.8c0.8-1.4,2.1-2.2,3.8-2.2c1.2,0,1.9,0.5,2.4,1.3c0.3,0.6,0.4,1,0.4,5.4 c0,2.8-0.1,4.4-0.1,5.1c-0.1,0.7-0.4,0.8-2,0.9l0,1c0.8,0,2-0.1,3.6-0.1c1.5,0,2.8,0.1,3.9,0.1l0.1-1 C333.1,33.4,332.9,33.3,332.9,32.5z M352.5,29.8l0.9,0.5c-1.1,3.2-3.3,4.5-6.3,4.5c-2.7,0-4.4-0.8-5.6-2.4c-0.9-1.2-1.5-3.2-1.5-5.3 c0-4.4,2.5-8.3,7.4-8.3c5.1,0,6,4,6,6.1c0,0.7-0.2,1.2-0.7,1.4c-0.6,0.2-2.3,0.4-4.6,0.5c-1.2,0-3.1,0-4.6,0 c-0.1,1.9,0.4,3.6,1.1,4.6c0.8,1.2,1.9,1.8,3.5,1.8C350.3,33.2,351.6,32.2,352.5,29.8z M343.6,25.7h2.9c1.7,0,2.6-0.1,3.1-0.2 c0.5-0.1,0.7-0.5,0.7-1.2c0-1.9-0.8-4.4-3.1-4.4C344.8,19.9,343.7,22.8,343.6,25.7z"></path> </g></svg> </a> </div> <nav class="mega__main mega__group h2 orange fill-h"> <ul> <li class="pv05"> <a class="mega__link pangram mbold" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./physics/">Physics</a> </li> <li class="pv05"> <a class="mega__link pangram mbold" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./mathematics/">Mathematics</a> </li> <li class="pv05"> <a class="mega__link pangram mbold" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./biology/">Biology</a> </li> <li class="pv05"> <a class="mega__link pangram mbold" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./computer-science/">Computer Science</a> </li> <li class="pv05"> <a class="mega__link pangram mbold" role="menuitem" href="/topics">Topics</a> </li> <li class="pv05"> <a class="mega__link pangram mbold" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/archive/">Archive</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="mega__secondary mega__group h3 gray3 fill-h"> <ul> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./abstractions/">Blog</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="/tag/quantized">Columns</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./qa/">Interviews</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="/podcasts/">Podcasts</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./puzzles/">Puzzles</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/./multimedia/">Multimedia</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="/videos">Videos</a> </li> <li class="pv075"> <a class="mega__link merriweather" role="menuitem" href="https://www.quantamagazine.org/about/">About Quanta</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="mega__other mega__group white fill-h grid"> <div class="mega__notice mb2"> <p class="h5 mt025 italic o6"> <em>An editorially independent publication supported by the Simons Foundation.</em> </p> </div> <div class="mega__social"> <div class="mv0 bold h2t"> Follow Quanta </div> <div class='social-links flex flex-justify-between flex-items-center social-links--mega mt1 pt05 flex-justify-center'> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/QuantaNews' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative facebook mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Facebook</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M13 16.5h5.1v-5c-.2-2.7.3-5.4 1.7-7.7 1.8-2.5 4.9-4 8-3.8 3.1-.1 6.2.2 9.2 1l-1.3 7.7C34.4 8.3 33 8 31.6 8c-2 0-3.8.7-3.8 2.7v5.9H36l-.6 7.5h-7.6V50h-9.6V23.9H13v-7.4z"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://twitter.com/QuantaMagazine' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative twitter mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>X Twitter</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M50 9.9c-1.9.8-3.8 1.3-5.9 1.6 2.1-1.3 3.7-3.2 4.5-5.6-2 1.2-4.2 2-6.5 2.5-3.8-4.1-10.3-4.5-14.5-.8-2.8 2.5-4 6.3-3.1 10-8.2-.5-15.8-4.3-21-10.6-2.7 4.6-1.3 10.5 3.2 13.5C5 20.4 3.4 20 2 19.2c0 4.8 3.4 8.9 8.2 9.9-.9.2-1.8.4-2.7.3-.6 0-1.3-.1-1.9-.2 1.3 4.1 5.2 6.9 9.5 7C10.8 39.5 5.4 41 0 40.4c13.5 8.5 31.5 4.6 40.2-8.7 3-4.6 4.6-10 4.6-15.5v-1.3c2-1.3 3.7-3.1 5.2-5"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://www.youtube.com/c/QuantaScienceChannel' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative youtube mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50" > <title>Youtube</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M18.7 33.7V16.1l15.7 8.8-15.7 8.8zM43.3 8.2c-12.2-.9-24.4-.9-36.6 0-1.8.2-3.4 1.2-4.3 2.8C1.3 12.5.6 14.3.3 16.2c-.5 5.9-.5 11.8 0 17.7.2 1.9.9 3.7 2.1 5.2 1 1.5 2.5 2.6 4.3 2.9 12.2.8 24.4.8 36.6 0 1.8-.4 3.3-1.5 4.3-3 1.1-1.5 1.8-3.3 2.1-5.1.5-6 .5-12.1 0-18.1-.2-1.8-.8-3.6-1.9-5.1-1-1.6-2.7-2.5-4.5-2.5z"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://instagram.com/quantamag' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative instagram mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50" > <title>Instagram</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M33.4 0H16.6C7.5 0 0 7.5 0 16.6v16.8C0 42.5 7.5 50 16.6 50h16.8C42.5 50 50 42.5 50 33.4V16.6C50 7.5 42.5 0 33.4 0zM25 36.6c-6.4 0-11.6-5.2-11.6-11.6S18.6 13.4 25 13.4 36.6 18.6 36.6 25 31.4 36.6 25 36.6zm15.1-23.2c-1.8 0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S38.3 7 40.1 7s3.2 1.4 3.2 3.2c0 1.7-1.5 3.2-3.2 3.2z"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/feed/' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative rss mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50"><title>RSS</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M0 0v8.8c22.7 0 41.2 18.5 41.2 41.2H50C50 22.4 27.6 0 0 0z"></path><path fill="currentColor" d="M0 17.2v8.7c13.3 0 24.1 10.8 24.1 24.1h8.7c0-18.1-14.7-32.8-32.8-32.8z"></path><circle fill="currentColor" cx="7.4" cy="42.6" r="7.4"></circle></svg></div> </a> </div> <div class='mega__other__divider mv2 white o2'></div> </div> <section class='outer mega__newsletter ' id='nav-newsletter'> <div class='scale0 mt1 mha container--xs pt05'> <div class='mt0 bold h2t'> Newsletter </div> <p class='h5 mt025 italic o6'> <em>Get the latest news delivered to your inbox.</em> </p> <div class='newsletter__form block mha newsletter--mega mb2' id='mc_embed_signup'> <form action='https://quantamagazine.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c' target='_blank' method='post' class='bg-white' id='mc-embedded-subscribe-form' name='mc-embedded-subscribe-form' target='_blank'> <div class='newsletter__form__inner flex flex-items-start mha'> <div class='newsletter__form__field flex flex-auto relative fill-v'> <label class='screen-reader-text' for='mce-EMAIL'>Email</label> <input type='email' class='flex fill-h px1 input--transparent pangram light scale3 placeholder-gray-808' name='EMAIL' id='mce-EMAIL' placeholder='Email address' autocorrect='off' autocapitalize='off' required> </div>  <div class='absolute left-n-infini' aria-hidden='true'> <input type='text' name='b_0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618_f0cb61321c' tabindex='-1' value=''> </div> <button type='submit' class='ph2 pangram scale5 medium fill-v orange hover--black' id='mc-embedded-subscribe'>Subscribe</button> </div> </form> <div id='mce-responses' class='theme__anchors--solid'> <div class='response h5 merriweather italic hidden mt1' id='mce-error-response'></div> <div class='response h5 merriweather italic hidden mt1' id='mce-success-response'></div> </div> </div> <div class='h4t mb0'> <a target='_blank' href='http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/home/?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c' class='mega__newsletter__link pangram bold scale5 relative'> <span class='p'>Recent newsletters</span> <svg class='icon inline orange ml05' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </div> </div> <div class='mega__other__divider mv2 white o2 shop_divider'></div> </section> <div class="mega__store shop"> <div class="mv0 bold h2t"> Gift Store </div> <div class="mt025 h4t"> <a class="mega__newsletter__link pangram bold scale5 relative" href="/gift-store"> <span class="p">Shop Quanta gear</span> <svg class='icon inline orange ml05' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class='nav__container z1 fill-v mha absolute fit-x'> <div class='nav__inner fill-v relative z1'> <section class='outer header__inner flex fill-v relative z1'> <nav class='flex fill-h'> <div class='header__group flex relative z1'> <a class='header__logo flex flex-items-center mr1 absolute fit-t fit-b' href='/'> <svg x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 353.5 49.5" enable-background="new 0 0 353.5 49.5" class=''> <title>Quanta Homepage</title> <g id="logo"> <path id="logo__mark" class='transition--color text-1a1a1a' fill="currentColor" d="M28.4,5.9c1,0,1.9-0.8,1.9-1.9c0-1-0.8-1.9-1.9-1.9c-1,0-1.9,0.8-1.9,1.9C26.5,5.1,27.3,5.9,28.4,5.9z M28.4,43.6c-1,0-1.9,0.8-1.9,1.9c0,1,0.8,1.9,1.9,1.9c1,0,1.9-0.8,1.9-1.9C30.3,44.5,29.4,43.6,28.4,43.6z M10.9,33.3 c-0.5-0.1-1-0.1-1.4,0.2c-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.9,1.1c-0.1,0.5-0.1,1,0.2,1.4c0.4,0.6,1,0.9,1.6,0.9c0.3,0,0.6-0.1,0.9-0.3 c0.4-0.3,0.8-0.7,0.9-1.1c0.1-0.5,0.1-1-0.2-1.4C11.8,33.7,11.4,33.4,10.9,33.3z M46.8,12.6c-0.5-0.1-1-0.1-1.4,0.2 c-0.9,0.5-1.2,1.7-0.7,2.6c0.3,0.4,0.7,0.7,1.1,0.9c0.2,0,0.3,0.1,0.5,0.1c0.3,0,0.6-0.1,0.9-0.3c0.4-0.3,0.8-0.7,0.9-1.1 c0.1-0.5,0.1-1-0.2-1.4C47.7,13,47.3,12.7,46.8,12.6z M47.3,33.5c-0.4-0.3-0.9-0.3-1.4-0.2c-0.3,0.1-0.6,0.3-0.8,0.5l-3.4-2 c0.2-0.5,0.2-1,0.1-1.5c-0.2-0.7-0.6-1.2-1.2-1.6c-1.3-0.7-2.9-0.3-3.6,1c-0.4,0.6-0.4,1.3-0.3,2c0,0.1,0,0.1,0.1,0.2l-6.3,3.6 c-0.5-0.6-1.2-0.9-2-0.9c-0.8,0-1.5,0.4-2,0.9l-6.3-3.6c0-0.1,0-0.1,0.1-0.2c0.2-0.7,0.1-1.4-0.3-2c-0.4-0.6-0.9-1-1.6-1.2 c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.2,0v-7.3c0.1,0,0.1,0,0.2,0c0.7-0.2,1.2-0.6,1.6-1.2c0.4-0.6,0.4-1.3,0.3-2c0-0.1,0-0.1-0.1-0.2l6.3-3.6 c0.5,0.6,1.2,0.9,2,0.9c1.5,0,2.6-1.2,2.6-2.6s-1.2-2.6-2.6-2.6s-2.6,1.2-2.6,2.6c0,0.3,0.1,0.6,0.2,0.9l-6.3,3.6 c-0.2-0.2-0.4-0.4-0.7-0.6c-0.6-0.4-1.3-0.4-2-0.3c-0.7,0.2-1.2,0.6-1.6,1.2c-0.7,1.3-0.3,2.9,1,3.6l0,0c0.3,0.1,0.5,0.2,0.8,0.3 v7.3c-0.3,0.1-0.6,0.1-0.8,0.3c-0.6,0.4-1,0.9-1.2,1.6c-0.2,0.7-0.1,1.4,0.3,2c0.4,0.6,0.9,1,1.6,1.2c0.2,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.7,0.1 c0.5,0,0.9-0.1,1.3-0.4c0.3-0.1,0.5-0.3,0.7-0.6l6.3,3.6c-0.1,0.3-0.2,0.6-0.2,0.9c0,1.5,1.2,2.6,2.6,2.6s2.6-1.2,2.6-2.6 c0-0.3-0.1-0.6-0.2-0.9l6.3-3.6c0.2,0.2,0.4,0.4,0.7,0.6l0,0c0.4,0.2,0.9,0.4,1.3,0.4c0.7,0,1.5-0.3,2-0.9l3.4,2 c-0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6,0,1c0.1,0.5,0.4,0.9,0.9,1.1c0.3,0.2,0.6,0.3,0.9,0.3c0.2,0,0.3,0,0.5-0.1c0.5-0.1,0.9-0.4,1.1-0.9 c0.3-0.4,0.3-0.9,0.2-1.4C48,34.2,47.7,33.7,47.3,33.5z M9.5,16c0.3,0.2,0.6,0.3,0.9,0.3c0.2,0,0.3,0,0.5-0.1 c0.5-0.1,0.9-0.4,1.1-0.9c0.5-0.9,0.2-2.1-0.7-2.6c-0.9-0.5-2.1-0.2-2.6,0.7c-0.3,0.4-0.3,0.9-0.2,1.4C8.7,15.4,9,15.8,9.5,16z M15.7,2.8c0.7-0.4,0.9-1.3,0.5-2c-0.4-0.7-1.3-0.9-2-0.5c-0.7,0.4-0.9,1.3-0.5,2C14.1,2.9,15,3.2,15.7,2.8z M41.1,46.8 c-0.7,0.4-0.9,1.3-0.5,2c0.4,0.7,1.3,0.9,2,0.5c0.7-0.4,0.9-1.3,0.5-2C42.7,46.6,41.8,46.4,41.1,46.8z M15.7,46.8 c-0.7-0.4-1.6-0.2-2,0.5c-0.4,0.7-0.2,1.6,0.5,2c0.7,0.4,1.6,0.2,2-0.5C16.6,48.1,16.4,47.2,15.7,46.8z M41.1,2.8 c0.7,0.4,1.6,0.2,2-0.5c0.4-0.7,0.2-1.6-0.5-2c-0.7-0.4-1.6-0.2-2,0.5C40.1,1.4,40.4,2.3,41.1,2.8z M55.3,23.3 c-0.8,0-1.5,0.7-1.5,1.5c0,0.8,0.7,1.5,1.5,1.5c0.8,0,1.5-0.7,1.5-1.5C56.7,24,56.1,23.3,55.3,23.3z M1.5,23.3C0.7,23.3,0,24,0,24.8 c0,0.8,0.7,1.5,1.5,1.5s1.5-0.7,1.5-1.5C2.9,24,2.3,23.3,1.5,23.3z M39.1,21.2c0.4,0,0.9-0.1,1.3-0.4c1.3-0.7,1.7-2.3,1-3.6 c-0.7-1.3-2.3-1.7-3.6-1l0,0c-0.6,0.4-1,0.9-1.2,1.6c-0.2,0.7-0.1,1.4,0.3,2C37.3,20.7,38.2,21.2,39.1,21.2z"></path> <path id="logo__quanta" class='transition--color text-1a1a1a' fill="currentColor" d="M309.9,14c0,1.1-0.9,1.8-2,1.8c-0.9,0-1.8-0.7-1.8-1.8c0-1.2,0.8-2,1.9-2C309.2,12,309.9,12.8,309.9,14z M85.5,28.7c0.6-1.3,0.8-2.6,0.8-4.2c0-2.9-1-5.2-2.9-7.1c-1.9-1.9-4.2-2.8-7-2.8s-5.1,0.9-7,2.8c-1.9,1.9-2.9,4.2-2.9,7.1 c0,2.9,1,5.2,2.9,7.1c1.9,1.9,4.2,2.8,7,2.8c2.7,0,4.9-0.9,6.8-2.6l2.6,1.7l2.2-3.3L85.5,28.7z M82.1,26.5L79.8,25l-2.2,3.3l2.3,1.5 c-1,0.7-2.1,1.1-3.5,1.1c-1.8,0-3.2-0.6-4.3-1.7c-1.1-1.2-1.6-2.7-1.6-4.6c0-1.9,0.5-3.4,1.6-4.6c1.1-1.2,2.5-1.7,4.3-1.7 c1.8,0,3.2,0.6,4.3,1.7c1.1,1.1,1.6,2.7,1.6,4.6C82.3,25.2,82.2,25.9,82.1,26.5z M103.2,27.3c0,1.2-0.3,2.1-0.9,2.8 c-0.6,0.6-1.5,1-2.5,1s-1.9-0.3-2.5-1c-0.6-0.6-0.9-1.6-0.9-2.8v-8.5h-3.9v9c0,2,0.6,3.7,1.7,4.8c1.1,1.2,2.5,1.7,4.3,1.7 c2.2,0,3.6-0.4,4.8-1.7v1.5h3.9V18.9h-3.9V27.3z M144.3,18.9c-2.2,0-3.6,0.4-4.8,1.7v-1.5h-3.9v15.4h3.9V26c0-1.2,0.3-2.1,0.9-2.8 c0.6-0.6,1.5-1,2.5-1c1.1,0,1.9,0.3,2.5,1c0.6,0.6,0.9,1.6,0.9,2.8v8.5h3.9v-9c0-2-0.6-3.7-1.7-4.8C147.4,19.5,146,18.9,144.3,18.9z M124.8,18.9v1.5c-0.8-0.8-2.7-1.7-4.8-1.7c-2.1,0-3.8,0.7-5.2,2.2c-1.4,1.5-2.1,3.4-2.1,5.7c0,2.3,0.7,4.2,2.1,5.7 c1.4,1.5,3.1,2.2,5.2,2.2c1.3,0,3-0.2,4.8-1.6v1.4h3.9V18.9H124.8z M123.6,29.9c-0.8,0.8-1.8,1.2-2.8,1.2c-1.1,0-2-0.4-2.8-1.2 c-0.8-0.8-1.2-1.9-1.2-3.3c0-1.4,0.4-2.5,1.2-3.3c0.8-0.8,1.8-1.2,2.8-1.2c1.1,0,2,0.4,2.9,1.2c0.8,0.8,1.2,1.9,1.2,3.3 C124.8,28,124.4,29.1,123.6,29.9z M180.1,18.9v1.5c-0.8-0.8-2.7-1.7-4.8-1.7c-2.1,0-3.8,0.7-5.2,2.2c-1.4,1.5-2.1,3.4-2.1,5.7 c0,2.3,0.7,4.2,2.1,5.7c1.4,1.5,3.1,2.2,5.2,2.2c1.3,0,3-0.2,4.8-1.6v1.4h3.9V18.9H180.1z M178.9,29.9c-0.8,0.8-1.8,1.2-2.8,1.2 c-1.1,0-2-0.4-2.8-1.2c-0.8-0.8-1.2-1.9-1.2-3.3c0-1.4,0.4-2.5,1.2-3.3C174,22.4,175,22,176,22c1.1,0,2,0.4,2.9,1.2 c0.8,0.8,1.2,1.9,1.2,3.3C180.1,28,179.7,29.1,178.9,29.9z M161.4,31c-1.1,0-1.9-0.7-1.9-2.1v-6.4h4.1v-3.2h-4.1v-4h-3.7v4v3.2v6.4 c0,3.7,2.1,5.5,5.3,5.4c1.1,0,2-0.2,3-0.6l-1-3.1C162.6,30.9,161.9,31,161.4,31z"></path> <path id="logo__magazine" class='transition--color text-999999' fill="currentColor" d="M218.3,33.5l-0.1,1c-1.1,0-2.4-0.1-3.9-0.1c-1.5,0-2.7,0.1-3.6,0.1v-1c1.6-0.1,2-0.3,2-0.9 c0.1-0.8,0.1-2.4,0.1-5.1c0-4.4,0-4.9-0.3-5.4c-0.4-0.9-1.2-1.4-2.4-1.4c-1.6,0-3,1-3.7,2.3c-0.2,0.5-0.4,0.9-0.4,1.5v4.7 c0,1.3,0,2.6,0.1,3.4c0,0.7,0.4,0.9,2.2,0.9l-0.1,1c-0.9,0-2.5-0.1-3.9-0.1c-1.4,0-2.6,0.1-3.5,0.1v-1c1.6-0.1,2-0.2,2-1 c0.1-1.1,0.1-2.2,0.1-4.4v-2.8c0-2.4,0-2.8-0.2-3.3c-0.4-0.9-1.1-1.3-2.3-1.3c-1.5,0-3,0.9-3.8,2.4c-0.3,0.6-0.4,0.9-0.4,1.7v4.6 c0,1.4,0,2.5,0.1,3.3c0.1,0.7,0.4,0.8,2.1,0.9l-0.1,0.9c-0.8,0-2.5-0.1-3.8-0.1c-1.3,0-2.6,0.1-3.7,0.1v-1c1.8,0,2.1-0.2,2.1-1 c0-0.9,0.1-2.3,0.1-4.2v-2.9c0-1.9,0-3.4-0.1-4.3c0-0.5-0.3-0.6-2.2-0.6l0.1-0.9c1.7,0,3.6-0.2,5.2-0.5c0.1,0.6,0.2,2.2,0.2,2.7 c1.3-1.3,3.2-2.9,5.7-2.9c2,0,2.9,0.8,3.4,1.5c0.3,0.4,0.5,0.9,0.6,1.3c1.2-1.2,3-2.8,5.7-2.8c2.1,0,3.3,1.1,3.8,2 c0.4,0.7,0.5,1.5,0.5,2.3v9.4C216,33.3,216.2,33.4,218.3,33.5z M238.4,31l0.9,0.4c-0.5,2.5-1.9,3.4-3.5,3.4c-1.8,0-2.5-1.1-2.7-2.6 c-1.5,1.7-3.4,2.6-5,2.6c-2.7,0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3c0-1.4,0.6-2.6,2-3.2c2.4-1,6-2.1,7.4-3.1v-1.4c0-1.5-0.7-3-2.7-3 c-2.1,0-3,1.1-3,2.5c0,0.4,0.1,0.8,0.1,1.1c0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.7c-0.3,0.2-0.7,0.4-1.2,0.4c-0.8,0-1.5-0.4-1.5-1.6 c0-1.8,2.6-4.1,6.4-4.1c3,0,4.3,1.3,4.7,2c0.3,0.5,0.5,1.2,0.5,1.8v8.9c0,1.3,0.4,1.5,0.8,1.5C237.5,33.1,238,32.4,238.4,31z M233,25.3c-1,0.5-2.8,1.3-4.1,2c-1.1,0.6-1.8,1.1-1.8,2.7c0,1.7,0.9,3,2.5,3c1.7,0,2.7-1,3.3-2.3c0.1-0.4,0.2-1,0.2-1.5V25.3z M255.8,27.1c-1.3,0-2.8-0.1-3.7-0.1l0,0.9l1.5,0.1c1.2,0.1,1.4,0.3,1.4,1.3c0,1,0,2.4-0.1,3.2c-0.1,0.8-1.1,1.3-2.5,1.3 c-1.5,0-2.8-0.5-3.8-1.8c-0.9-1.1-1.3-3.1-1.3-5.1c0-2.2,0.5-3.9,1.4-5.1c0.8-1.2,2-1.8,3.5-1.8c2.6,0,4.1,1.7,4.4,5l0.9,0 c-0.1-2.1,0.2-4.8,0.4-5.7l-0.8-0.3l-0.5,1.3c-0.5-0.5-1.8-1.4-4.3-1.4c-1.6,0-3,0.3-4.2,1c-2.4,1.3-3.8,3.9-3.8,7 c0,2.4,0.6,4.2,1.7,5.5c1.2,1.5,3.2,2.3,6.1,2.3c1.2,0,2.5-0.3,3.6-0.6c1-0.3,1.8-0.6,2.4-0.7c-0.1-0.5-0.2-1.3-0.2-2.5 c0-0.7,0-1.7,0.1-2.3c0-0.5,0.3-0.6,1.5-0.8l0-0.9C258.4,27.1,257.1,27.1,255.8,27.1z M279.4,31l0.9,0.4c-0.5,2.5-1.9,3.4-3.5,3.4 c-1.8,0-2.5-1.1-2.7-2.6c-1.5,1.7-3.4,2.6-5,2.6c-2.7,0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3c0-1.4,0.6-2.6,2-3.2c2.4-1,6-2.1,7.4-3.1v-1.4 c0-1.5-0.7-3-2.7-3c-2.1,0-3,1.1-3,2.5c0,0.4,0.1,0.8,0.1,1.1c0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.7c-0.3,0.2-0.7,0.4-1.2,0.4 c-0.8,0-1.5-0.4-1.5-1.6c0-1.8,2.6-4.1,6.4-4.1c3,0,4.3,1.3,4.7,2c0.3,0.5,0.5,1.2,0.5,1.8v8.9c0,1.3,0.4,1.5,0.8,1.5 C278.5,33.1,279,32.4,279.4,31z M274,25.3c-1,0.5-2.8,1.3-4.1,2c-1.1,0.6-1.8,1.1-1.8,2.7c0,1.7,0.9,3,2.5,3c1.7,0,2.7-1,3.3-2.3 c0.1-0.4,0.2-1,0.2-1.5V25.3z M295.1,33c-1,0.2-2.8,0.3-5.6,0.3c1.8-2.8,7.1-10.8,7.9-12c0.4-0.7,0.8-1.4,0.9-2.1 c-1.4,0-2.6,0.1-5.3,0.1h-3c-2,0-3.2-0.1-3.8-0.4c0,2.1-0.2,4.4-0.4,5.8l0.9-0.2c0.2-0.8,0.4-1.7,0.7-2.6c0.4-1.1,0.9-1.4,2.4-1.5 c1.4-0.1,2.9-0.1,4.4-0.1c-0.9,1.8-5.2,8.8-9,13.4l0.4,0.7c0.6,0,1.7-0.1,3.7-0.1c3.8,0,7.8,0.1,9.1,0.2c0.1-1.6,0.4-4.3,0.6-5.8 l-0.9-0.2C297.3,32,296.5,32.9,295.1,33z M309.9,32.5c0-0.7-0.1-1.9-0.1-4.1v-4.1c0-2.6,0.1-4.6,0.1-5.4c-1.6,0.4-3.9,0.5-5.6,0.6 l0,0.9c1.9-0.1,2.2,0,2.2,0.5c0,0.5,0.1,1.7,0.1,3.6v3.9c0,2-0.1,3.5-0.1,4.1c0,0.6-0.3,0.9-2.4,1l0,1c1.1,0,2.1-0.1,3.8-0.1 c1.7,0,3,0.1,4,0.1l0-1C310.3,33.4,309.9,33.3,309.9,32.5z M332.9,32.5v-9.3c0-0.8-0.1-1.6-0.5-2.2c-0.5-1.1-1.7-2.1-4-2.1 c-2.5,0-4.2,1.5-5.5,2.7c0-0.5-0.1-1.9-0.2-2.6c-1.6,0.3-3.4,0.5-5.1,0.5l-0.1,0.9c1.8,0,2.1,0.1,2.1,0.6c0.1,0.9,0.1,2.4,0.1,4.3 v3.1c0,1.7-0.1,3-0.1,4c0,0.8-0.3,0.9-2.1,1v1c1,0,2.2-0.1,3.7-0.1c1.3,0,3,0.1,3.9,0.1l0.1-1c-1.8-0.1-2.1-0.2-2.1-0.9 c-0.1-0.8-0.1-2.2-0.1-3.7v-4.1c0-0.8,0.1-1.3,0.4-1.8c0.8-1.4,2.1-2.2,3.8-2.2c1.2,0,1.9,0.5,2.4,1.3c0.3,0.6,0.4,1,0.4,5.4 c0,2.8-0.1,4.4-0.1,5.1c-0.1,0.7-0.4,0.8-2,0.9l0,1c0.8,0,2-0.1,3.6-0.1c1.5,0,2.8,0.1,3.9,0.1l0.1-1 C333.1,33.4,332.9,33.3,332.9,32.5z M352.5,29.8l0.9,0.5c-1.1,3.2-3.3,4.5-6.3,4.5c-2.7,0-4.4-0.8-5.6-2.4c-0.9-1.2-1.5-3.2-1.5-5.3 c0-4.4,2.5-8.3,7.4-8.3c5.1,0,6,4,6,6.1c0,0.7-0.2,1.2-0.7,1.4c-0.6,0.2-2.3,0.4-4.6,0.5c-1.2,0-3.1,0-4.6,0 c-0.1,1.9,0.4,3.6,1.1,4.6c0.8,1.2,1.9,1.8,3.5,1.8C350.3,33.2,351.6,32.2,352.5,29.8z M343.6,25.7h2.9c1.7,0,2.6-0.1,3.1-0.2 c0.5-0.1,0.7-0.5,0.7-1.2c0-1.9-0.8-4.4-3.1-4.4C344.8,19.9,343.7,22.8,343.6,25.7z"></path> </g></svg> </a> </div> <div class='header__divider flex mh1 relative text-999999'> </div> <div class='header__main header__group flex relative'> <ul class='flex fill-v'> <li class='flex flex-items-center fill-v'> <a class='header__link flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 transition--color text-1a1a1a' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/./physics/'> <span class='mv0 h4t'>Physics</span> <span class='__underline text-ff8600'></span> </a> </li> <li class='flex flex-items-center fill-v'> <a class='header__link flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 transition--color text-1a1a1a' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/./mathematics/'> <span class='mv0 h4t'>Mathematics</span> <span class='__underline text-ff8600'></span> </a> </li> <li class='flex flex-items-center fill-v'> <a class='header__link flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 transition--color text-1a1a1a' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/./biology/'> <span class='mv0 h4t'>Biology</span> <span class='__underline text-ff8600'></span> </a> </li> <li class='flex flex-items-center fill-v'> <a class='header__link flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 transition--color text-1a1a1a' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/./computer-science/'> <span class='mv0 h4t'>Computer Science</span> <span class='__underline text-ff8600'></span> </a> </li> <li class='flex flex-items-center fill-v'> <a class='header__link flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 transition--color text-1a1a1a' href='/topics'> <span class='mv0 h4t'>Topics</span> <span class='__underline text-ff8600'></span> </a> </li> <li class='flex flex-items-center fill-v'> <a class='header__link flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 transition--color text-1a1a1a' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/archive/'> <span class='mv0 h4t'>Archive</span> <span class='__underline text-ff8600'></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class='header__group flex flex-auto relative'> <ul class='header__icons flex flex-auto'> <li class='header__bookmarks header__icon flex flex-items-center mh05 z1 text-1a1a1a' aria-haspopup='dialog' data-icon-color='text-1a1a1a'> <button class='relative ' data-function='trigger' data-name='nav-bookmarks'> <svg viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Saved articles</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M37.1,5.6v34.7l-8.9-5.1l-2.7-1.6l-2.8,1.5l-9.8,5.4V5.6H37.1 M42.7,0H7.3v50l18.1-9.9L42.7,50V0L42.7,0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement top-0 w-85'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow '></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='header__bookmarks__tooltip relative pv1 ph1'> <h2 class='mt0 mb05'>Saved Articles</h2> <p class='mt0 gray4 italic'>Create a reading list by clicking the Read Later icon next to the articles you wish to save.</p> <button class='button orange mr1 fill-h flex flex-items-center'> <a href='/saved-articles'> <span>See all saved articles</span> <svg class='icon ml05 icon orange icon-offset' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class='header__account header__icon flex flex-items-center mh05 z1 text-1a1a1a' aria-haspopup='dialog' data-icon-color='text-1a1a1a'> <button class='relative ' data-function='trigger' data-name='nav-account'> <svg viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class=""><title>Login</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M35.2 29.9c3.9-3.1 6.4-7.8 6.4-13.2C41.7 7.5 34.2 0 25 0S8.3 7.5 8.3 16.7c0 5.4 2.5 10.1 6.4 13.2C6.1 33.4 0 41.1 0 50h5.6c0-9.1 8.7-16.5 19.4-16.5S44.4 40.9 44.4 50H50c0-8.9-6.1-16.6-14.8-20.1zM25 5.6c6.1 0 11.1 5 11.1 11.2S31.1 28 25 28s-11.1-5-11.1-11.2S18.9 5.6 25 5.6z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-28 top-19-5 ml-n14'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow '></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='relative align-c pv05 ph1'> <h4 id='logout' class='pb075 mv0 relative theme__accent z1 link'>Log out</h4> <hr class='o2 mb075'> <h4 id='resetPW' class='mv0 relative theme__accent z1 link' data-function='trigger' data-name='reset-password'>Change password</h4> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class='header__search header__icon relative flex flex-items-center flex-auto flex-justify-end mh05 z1 text-1a1a1a'> <button class='relative' aria-haspopup='dialog' data-function='trigger' data-name='nav-search'> <svg class="" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Search</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M48.8 46.2l-9.2-9.4c3.5-3.9 5.7-9.1 5.7-14.7C45.3 9.9 35.4 0 23.2 0s-22 9.9-22 22.1 9.9 22.1 22 22.1c4.4 0 8.5-1.3 12-3.6l9.5 9.5 4.1-3.9zM7.1 22.1c0-8.9 7.2-16.2 16.2-16.2 8.9 0 16.2 7.3 16.2 16.2s-7.3 16.2-16.2 16.2c-9-.1-16.2-7.3-16.2-16.2z"></path></svg> </button> </li> <li class='header__hamburger-outer flex flex-items-center mh05 relative'> <div class='header__hamburger'> <button class='hamburger block z10 relative theme__header-primary mha text-999999' aria-haspopup='menu' aria-label='open the menu'> <span class='hamburger__bar absolute fit-x mxa'></span> <span class='hamburger__bar absolute fit-x mxa'></span> <span class='hamburger__bar absolute fit-x mxa'></span> </button> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </div> <script type='text/javascript'> let headerArray = '{"type":"default","solid_primary_color":"text-1a1a1a","solid_secondary_color":"text-999999","solid_hover_color":"text-ff8600","solid_background_color":null,"solid_border_color":null}'; </script> </div> <div class='relative z0'> <div class='nav-search h-screen fit-x z0 bg-black hidden' role='dialog' data-function='toggle' data-name='nav-search'> <div class='nav-search__outer relative pt-0'> <div class='nav-search__inner pv2 relative flex flex-items-center opacity-100 translate-y-0'> <div class='fill-h mha container--sm'> <div class='scale0 fill-h'> <div class='pv2 fill-h'> <div class='white fill-h scale1 nav-search__form-container'> <p class='white pangram h6 uppercase kern--w bold'>Type search term(s)<span class='nav-search__title-addon'> and press enter</span></p> <form action='/' class='fill-h align-l relative' method='get' data-name='search-form'> <div class='search-input-container h0 '> <input id='nav-search-input' value='' name='s' class='search-input ' type='text' /> <label for='nav-search-input' data-label='What are you looking for?'>What are you looking for?</label> </div> <button class='nav-search__submit ' type='submit' value='Submit' disabled='disabled'> <svg class="nav-search__icon orange hover--white" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Search</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M48.8 46.2l-9.2-9.4c3.5-3.9 5.7-9.1 5.7-14.7C45.3 9.9 35.4 0 23.2 0s-22 9.9-22 22.1 9.9 22.1 22 22.1c4.4 0 8.5-1.3 12-3.6l9.5 9.5 4.1-3.9zM7.1 22.1c0-8.9 7.2-16.2 16.2-16.2 8.9 0 16.2 7.3 16.2 16.2s-7.3 16.2-16.2 16.2c-9-.1-16.2-7.3-16.2-16.2z"></path></svg> </button> </form> </div> <nav class='nav-search__popular scale1 theme fill-h align-l flex flex-wrap'> <p class='nav-search__popular-title gray4 pangram h6 uppercase kern bold mt1'>Popular Searches</p> <ul class='nav-search__popular-list relative flex flex-wrap'> <li class='nav-search__popular-item pv05 scale0'> <a class='nav-search__popular-link pangram white block theme__primary--hover color-transition' href='/?s=math'> Mathematics<svg class='icon icon-s orange float-r icon-offset--lg' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </li> <li class='nav-search__popular-item pv05 scale0'> <a class='nav-search__popular-link pangram white block theme__primary--hover color-transition' href='/?s=physics'> Physics<svg class='icon icon-s orange float-r icon-offset--lg' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </li> <li class='nav-search__popular-item pv05 scale0'> <a class='nav-search__popular-link pangram white block theme__primary--hover color-transition' href='/?s=black+holes'> Black Holes<svg class='icon icon-s orange float-r icon-offset--lg' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </li> <li class='nav-search__popular-item pv05 scale0'> <a class='nav-search__popular-link pangram white block theme__primary--hover color-transition' href='/?s=evolution'> Evolution<svg class='icon icon-s orange float-r icon-offset--lg' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main> <section class='outer hero--header outer--content bg-gray1 scale1 align-c'> <div class='scale0 mha container--m'> <div class='header-spacer'></div> <div class='flex flex-wrap'> <div class='author__avatar mha'> <div class='image mx0 relative image--circle '> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="1803" height="1803" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2.png" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="A woman with black hair" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2.png 1803w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2-1720x1720.png 1720w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2-520x520.png 520w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2-768x768.png 768w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2-1536x1536.png 1536w, https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kim-Headshot_Circular-2-160x160.png 160w" sizes="(max-width: 1803px) 100vw, 1803px" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class='author__info flex-auto'> <h1 class='mt075 mb0 noe'> Shi En Kim </h1> <p class='h5 gray4 o8 mv025'> <em> Contributor </em> </p> <div class='author__social flex flex-items-center mt1'> <a href='/contact-us/?editor=shi-en-kim' class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative mr075' > <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer text-orange hover:text-gray-1a1'> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Email</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M25,29.5l-5.2-4.3L1.8,43.8h46L30.1,25.2L25,29.5z M32.6,23.2l17.2,17.9c0-0.2,0.1-0.3,0.1-0.5c0-0.2,0-0.4,0-0.6V9.1 L32.6,23.2z M0,9.1v31c0,0.2,0,0.4,0,0.6s0.1,0.3,0.1,0.5l17.3-17.8L0,9.1z M48.4,6.2H1.6L25,25L48.4,6.2z"></path></svg></div> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <h2 class='screen-reader-text'>Latest Articles</h2> <section class='outer mv2 outer--content'> <div class='mha container--m'> <section class='cws flex flex-wrap scale0 fill-h archive__content pv2'> <div class='cws__content fill-h mha'> <div> <div class='card clearfix mv05 pv1 '> <div class='card__image mr1 mb1' data-toggle-hover='card'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/hes-gleaning-the-design-rules-of-life-to-re-create-it-20241104/' class='relative'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>He’s Gleaning the Design Rules of Life to Re-Create It</span> <div class='image mx0 relative image--standard'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img width="520" height="292" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/QA-Patrick-Cai_crDave-Phillips-Default-1.webp" class="absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v mxa" alt="" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </a> </div> <div class='card__content '> <div class='mb1 pb025 mt0 h6t card__kicker'> <a class="kicker theme__accent theme__text-hover uppercase" href="/tag/qa/">Q&A</a> </div> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/hes-gleaning-the-design-rules-of-life-to-re-create-it-20241104/' data-toggle-hover='card'> <h3 class='card__title noe mv0 theme__accent-hover transition--color h2t'> He’s Gleaning the Design Rules of Life to Re-Create It </h3> </a> <div class='card__meta mb0 mt025 flex flex-items-center flex-wrap'> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/authors/shienkim/'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Shi En Kim</span> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative h6'></span> <div class='card-date h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='uppercase mr1 kern small gray3'>November 4, 2024</div> <span class='o-divider o-divider--vertical mr1 relative'></span> </div> <div class='card__actions h6 flex flex-items-center mv05'> <div class='comments-button mr05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-name='comment-bubble' > <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/hes-gleaning-the-design-rules-of-life-to-re-create-it-20241104/#comments' class='flex flex-items-center pangram'> <svg viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' class='o2'><title>Comment</title><path fill='currentColor' d='M9.4 4.2h31.2c8.6 0 9.4 7 9.4 15.6s-.7 15.6-9.4 15.6h-2.2l-.9 9.4-18.8-9.4H9.4c-8.6 0-9.4-7-9.4-15.6S.7 4.2 9.4 4.2z'></path></svg> <div> <span class='comments-button__count ml075 small mbold disqus-comment-count' data-disqus-identifier='143501 https://www.quantamagazine.org/?p=143501'></span> </div> </a> </div> <span class='o-divider mh075 relative'></span> <div class='relative'> <button class='bookmark-button mh05 flex flex-items-center theme__accent-hover ' data-toggle-hover='tooltip' data-id='143501' data-active-class='' aria-expanded='false'> <svg class="icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Save Article</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M2.1 0h45.8v50L25.5 37.5 2.1 50V0z"></path></svg> </button> <div class='q-tooltip hidden force-mobile-placement w-32 ml-n16 -top-10'> <div class='q-tooltip-content'> <div class='q-tooltip-arrow -bottom-3'></div> <div class='q-tooltip-inner py-1 pl-1' role='tooltip'> <div class='h6t relative z1 uppercase kern--w mx025'> <span class='small no-wrap'>Read Later</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='card__excerpt h5 pangram o6 mb4 mt025'> <p>Yizhi “Patrick” Cai is coordinating a global effort to write a complete synthetic yeast genome. If he succeeds, the resulting cell will be the artificial life most closely related to humans to date.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class='cws__divider'></div> <aside class='cws__sidebar fill-h mha'> <div class='mb2'> <h2 class='mt0'>About the author</h2> <small class='wysiwyg gray5 theme__anchors--underline'> Shi En Kim is a DC-based freelance science journalist who writes broadly about the sciences, technology and the natural world. She's also a cofounder of the journalist-owned website Sequencer Magazine. You can see more of her work at shienkim.wordpress.com or find her on Twitter @goes_by_kim and Bluesky @goesbykim.bsky.social. </small> </div> <div class='cws__social mv1'> <span class='mb05 bold h2t block'>Follow Quanta</span> <div class='social-links flex flex-justify-between flex-items-center social-links--sidebar'> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/QuantaNews' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative facebook mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Facebook</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M13 16.5h5.1v-5c-.2-2.7.3-5.4 1.7-7.7 1.8-2.5 4.9-4 8-3.8 3.1-.1 6.2.2 9.2 1l-1.3 7.7C34.4 8.3 33 8 31.6 8c-2 0-3.8.7-3.8 2.7v5.9H36l-.6 7.5h-7.6V50h-9.6V23.9H13v-7.4z"></path></svg></div> <strong class='social-links__label pangram h4 ml1'>Facebook</strong> </a> <hr class="social-links__divider" /> <a href='https://twitter.com/QuantaMagazine' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative twitter mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>X Twitter</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M50 9.9c-1.9.8-3.8 1.3-5.9 1.6 2.1-1.3 3.7-3.2 4.5-5.6-2 1.2-4.2 2-6.5 2.5-3.8-4.1-10.3-4.5-14.5-.8-2.8 2.5-4 6.3-3.1 10-8.2-.5-15.8-4.3-21-10.6-2.7 4.6-1.3 10.5 3.2 13.5C5 20.4 3.4 20 2 19.2c0 4.8 3.4 8.9 8.2 9.9-.9.2-1.8.4-2.7.3-.6 0-1.3-.1-1.9-.2 1.3 4.1 5.2 6.9 9.5 7C10.8 39.5 5.4 41 0 40.4c13.5 8.5 31.5 4.6 40.2-8.7 3-4.6 4.6-10 4.6-15.5v-1.3c2-1.3 3.7-3.1 5.2-5"></path></svg></div> <strong class='social-links__label pangram h4 ml1'>Twitter</strong> </a> <hr class="social-links__divider" /> <a href='https://www.youtube.com/c/QuantaScienceChannel' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative youtube mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50" > <title>Youtube</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M18.7 33.7V16.1l15.7 8.8-15.7 8.8zM43.3 8.2c-12.2-.9-24.4-.9-36.6 0-1.8.2-3.4 1.2-4.3 2.8C1.3 12.5.6 14.3.3 16.2c-.5 5.9-.5 11.8 0 17.7.2 1.9.9 3.7 2.1 5.2 1 1.5 2.5 2.6 4.3 2.9 12.2.8 24.4.8 36.6 0 1.8-.4 3.3-1.5 4.3-3 1.1-1.5 1.8-3.3 2.1-5.1.5-6 .5-12.1 0-18.1-.2-1.8-.8-3.6-1.9-5.1-1-1.6-2.7-2.5-4.5-2.5z"></path></svg></div> <strong class='social-links__label pangram h4 ml1'>YouTube</strong> </a> <hr class="social-links__divider" /> <a href='https://instagram.com/quantamag' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative instagram mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50" > <title>Instagram</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M33.4 0H16.6C7.5 0 0 7.5 0 16.6v16.8C0 42.5 7.5 50 16.6 50h16.8C42.5 50 50 42.5 50 33.4V16.6C50 7.5 42.5 0 33.4 0zM25 36.6c-6.4 0-11.6-5.2-11.6-11.6S18.6 13.4 25 13.4 36.6 18.6 36.6 25 31.4 36.6 25 36.6zm15.1-23.2c-1.8 0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S38.3 7 40.1 7s3.2 1.4 3.2 3.2c0 1.7-1.5 3.2-3.2 3.2z"></path></svg></div> <strong class='social-links__label pangram h4 ml1'>Instagram</strong> </a> <hr class="social-links__divider" /> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/feed/' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative rss mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50"><title>RSS</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M0 0v8.8c22.7 0 41.2 18.5 41.2 41.2H50C50 22.4 27.6 0 0 0z"></path><path fill="currentColor" d="M0 17.2v8.7c13.3 0 24.1 10.8 24.1 24.1h8.7c0-18.1-14.7-32.8-32.8-32.8z"></path><circle fill="currentColor" cx="7.4" cy="42.6" r="7.4"></circle></svg></div> <strong class='social-links__label pangram h4 ml1'>RSS</strong> </a> <hr class="social-links__divider" /> <a href='#newsletter' class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative newsletter mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa o2 theme__text theme__accent-hover hover--opaque'> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-ff8600 absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50"> <title>Newsletter</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M4.5 0v50h41V0h-41zm33.4 40.1H13.1V34h24.8v6.1zm0-12.1H13.1v-6.2h24.8V28zm0-12H13.1V9.8h24.8V16z"></path></svg></div> <strong class='social-links__label pangram h4 ml1'>Newsletter</strong> </a> </div> </div> <div class='mt2'> <div class='popular '> <p class='h6 pangram bold kicker gray3 uppercase kern mb05 mt0'>All Time</p> <h3 class='popular__title mv0 bold h2t'>Most Read from Shi En Kim</h3> <div class='flex flex-wrap'> <div class='fill-h '> <div class='card-list fill-h mb05 pv05'> <a class='card-list__image' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/hes-gleaning-the-design-rules-of-life-to-re-create-it-20241104/'> <div class='image mx0 relative image--square'> <div class='image__inner absolute fit-x is-loaded'> <img class='absolute fit-x fill-h fill-v is-loaded' src='https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/QA-Patrick-Cai_crDave-Phillips-Thumbnail.webp' alt=''/> </div> </div> </a> <div class='card-list__content mt2'> <a class='card-list__title theme__text theme__accent-hover transition--color ' href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/hes-gleaning-the-design-rules-of-life-to-re-create-it-20241104/'> <h4 class='h4t mt0 mb05 medium'>He’s Gleaning the Design Rules of Life to Re-Create It</h4> </a> <div class='byline relative flex flex-items-start merriweather mv025 mr1 gray3 h6t theme__text-hover'> <em class='byline__by gray4 mr075'>By </em> <a href='/authors/shienkim'> <span class='byline__author uppercase kern light small'>Shi En Kim</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </section> </div> </section> <section class='outer newsletter bg-gray1 align-c pv1 scale1 ' id='newsletter'> <div class='scale0 mt1 mha container--xs pv05'> <div class='newsletter__title h1 noe mv0'> The Quanta Newsletter </div> <p class='gray4 mt025 scale5'> <em>Get highlights of the most important news delivered to your email inbox</em> </p> <div class='newsletter__form block mha ' id='mc_embed_signup'> <form action='https://quantamagazine.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c' target='_blank' method='post' class='bg-white' id='mc-embedded-subscribe-form' name='mc-embedded-subscribe-form' target='_blank'> <div class='newsletter__form__inner flex flex-items-start mha'> <div class='newsletter__form__field flex flex-auto relative fill-v'> <label class='screen-reader-text' for='mce-EMAIL'>Email</label> <input type='email' class='flex fill-h px1 input--transparent pangram light scale3 placeholder-gray-808' name='EMAIL' id='mce-EMAIL' placeholder='Email address' autocorrect='off' autocapitalize='off' required> </div>  <div class='absolute left-n-infini' aria-hidden='true'> <input type='text' name='b_0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618_f0cb61321c' tabindex='-1' value=''> </div> <button type='submit' class='ph2 pangram scale5 medium fill-v orange hover--black' id='mc-embedded-subscribe'>Subscribe</button> </div> </form> <div id='mce-responses' class='theme__anchors--solid'> <div class='response h5 merriweather italic hidden mt1' id='mce-error-response'></div> <div class='response h5 merriweather italic hidden mt1' id='mce-success-response'></div> </div> </div> <div class='h4t inline-block'> <a target='_blank' href='http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/home/?u=0d6ddf7dc1a0b7297c8e06618&id=f0cb61321c' class='newsletter__link inline-block link--underline orange hover--black transition--color'> <span class=''>Recent newsletters</span> </a> </div> </div> <div class='mega__other__divider mv2 white o2 shop_divider'></div> </section> </main> <footer class='footer '> <section class='outer footer__outer'> <div class='relative z0 fill-v mha container--m'> <section class='outer footer__section footer__section--top flex flex-column flex-items-center flex-justify-between outer--content'> <div class='flex flex-justify-center'> <a href='/' class='footer__logo block'> <svg x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 353.5 49.5" enable-background="new 0 0 353.5 49.5" class='inline-block'> <title>Quanta Homepage</title> <g id="logo"> <path id="logo__mark" class='transition--color text-1a1a1a' fill="currentColor" d="M28.4,5.9c1,0,1.9-0.8,1.9-1.9c0-1-0.8-1.9-1.9-1.9c-1,0-1.9,0.8-1.9,1.9C26.5,5.1,27.3,5.9,28.4,5.9z M28.4,43.6c-1,0-1.9,0.8-1.9,1.9c0,1,0.8,1.9,1.9,1.9c1,0,1.9-0.8,1.9-1.9C30.3,44.5,29.4,43.6,28.4,43.6z M10.9,33.3 c-0.5-0.1-1-0.1-1.4,0.2c-0.4,0.3-0.7,0.7-0.9,1.1c-0.1,0.5-0.1,1,0.2,1.4c0.4,0.6,1,0.9,1.6,0.9c0.3,0,0.6-0.1,0.9-0.3 c0.4-0.3,0.8-0.7,0.9-1.1c0.1-0.5,0.1-1-0.2-1.4C11.8,33.7,11.4,33.4,10.9,33.3z M46.8,12.6c-0.5-0.1-1-0.1-1.4,0.2 c-0.9,0.5-1.2,1.7-0.7,2.6c0.3,0.4,0.7,0.7,1.1,0.9c0.2,0,0.3,0.1,0.5,0.1c0.3,0,0.6-0.1,0.9-0.3c0.4-0.3,0.8-0.7,0.9-1.1 c0.1-0.5,0.1-1-0.2-1.4C47.7,13,47.3,12.7,46.8,12.6z M47.3,33.5c-0.4-0.3-0.9-0.3-1.4-0.2c-0.3,0.1-0.6,0.3-0.8,0.5l-3.4-2 c0.2-0.5,0.2-1,0.1-1.5c-0.2-0.7-0.6-1.2-1.2-1.6c-1.3-0.7-2.9-0.3-3.6,1c-0.4,0.6-0.4,1.3-0.3,2c0,0.1,0,0.1,0.1,0.2l-6.3,3.6 c-0.5-0.6-1.2-0.9-2-0.9c-0.8,0-1.5,0.4-2,0.9l-6.3-3.6c0-0.1,0-0.1,0.1-0.2c0.2-0.7,0.1-1.4-0.3-2c-0.4-0.6-0.9-1-1.6-1.2 c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.2,0v-7.3c0.1,0,0.1,0,0.2,0c0.7-0.2,1.2-0.6,1.6-1.2c0.4-0.6,0.4-1.3,0.3-2c0-0.1,0-0.1-0.1-0.2l6.3-3.6 c0.5,0.6,1.2,0.9,2,0.9c1.5,0,2.6-1.2,2.6-2.6s-1.2-2.6-2.6-2.6s-2.6,1.2-2.6,2.6c0,0.3,0.1,0.6,0.2,0.9l-6.3,3.6 c-0.2-0.2-0.4-0.4-0.7-0.6c-0.6-0.4-1.3-0.4-2-0.3c-0.7,0.2-1.2,0.6-1.6,1.2c-0.7,1.3-0.3,2.9,1,3.6l0,0c0.3,0.1,0.5,0.2,0.8,0.3 v7.3c-0.3,0.1-0.6,0.1-0.8,0.3c-0.6,0.4-1,0.9-1.2,1.6c-0.2,0.7-0.1,1.4,0.3,2c0.4,0.6,0.9,1,1.6,1.2c0.2,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.7,0.1 c0.5,0,0.9-0.1,1.3-0.4c0.3-0.1,0.5-0.3,0.7-0.6l6.3,3.6c-0.1,0.3-0.2,0.6-0.2,0.9c0,1.5,1.2,2.6,2.6,2.6s2.6-1.2,2.6-2.6 c0-0.3-0.1-0.6-0.2-0.9l6.3-3.6c0.2,0.2,0.4,0.4,0.7,0.6l0,0c0.4,0.2,0.9,0.4,1.3,0.4c0.7,0,1.5-0.3,2-0.9l3.4,2 c-0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6,0,1c0.1,0.5,0.4,0.9,0.9,1.1c0.3,0.2,0.6,0.3,0.9,0.3c0.2,0,0.3,0,0.5-0.1c0.5-0.1,0.9-0.4,1.1-0.9 c0.3-0.4,0.3-0.9,0.2-1.4C48,34.2,47.7,33.7,47.3,33.5z M9.5,16c0.3,0.2,0.6,0.3,0.9,0.3c0.2,0,0.3,0,0.5-0.1 c0.5-0.1,0.9-0.4,1.1-0.9c0.5-0.9,0.2-2.1-0.7-2.6c-0.9-0.5-2.1-0.2-2.6,0.7c-0.3,0.4-0.3,0.9-0.2,1.4C8.7,15.4,9,15.8,9.5,16z M15.7,2.8c0.7-0.4,0.9-1.3,0.5-2c-0.4-0.7-1.3-0.9-2-0.5c-0.7,0.4-0.9,1.3-0.5,2C14.1,2.9,15,3.2,15.7,2.8z M41.1,46.8 c-0.7,0.4-0.9,1.3-0.5,2c0.4,0.7,1.3,0.9,2,0.5c0.7-0.4,0.9-1.3,0.5-2C42.7,46.6,41.8,46.4,41.1,46.8z M15.7,46.8 c-0.7-0.4-1.6-0.2-2,0.5c-0.4,0.7-0.2,1.6,0.5,2c0.7,0.4,1.6,0.2,2-0.5C16.6,48.1,16.4,47.2,15.7,46.8z M41.1,2.8 c0.7,0.4,1.6,0.2,2-0.5c0.4-0.7,0.2-1.6-0.5-2c-0.7-0.4-1.6-0.2-2,0.5C40.1,1.4,40.4,2.3,41.1,2.8z M55.3,23.3 c-0.8,0-1.5,0.7-1.5,1.5c0,0.8,0.7,1.5,1.5,1.5c0.8,0,1.5-0.7,1.5-1.5C56.7,24,56.1,23.3,55.3,23.3z M1.5,23.3C0.7,23.3,0,24,0,24.8 c0,0.8,0.7,1.5,1.5,1.5s1.5-0.7,1.5-1.5C2.9,24,2.3,23.3,1.5,23.3z M39.1,21.2c0.4,0,0.9-0.1,1.3-0.4c1.3-0.7,1.7-2.3,1-3.6 c-0.7-1.3-2.3-1.7-3.6-1l0,0c-0.6,0.4-1,0.9-1.2,1.6c-0.2,0.7-0.1,1.4,0.3,2C37.3,20.7,38.2,21.2,39.1,21.2z"></path> <path id="logo__quanta" class='transition--color text-1a1a1a' fill="currentColor" d="M309.9,14c0,1.1-0.9,1.8-2,1.8c-0.9,0-1.8-0.7-1.8-1.8c0-1.2,0.8-2,1.9-2C309.2,12,309.9,12.8,309.9,14z M85.5,28.7c0.6-1.3,0.8-2.6,0.8-4.2c0-2.9-1-5.2-2.9-7.1c-1.9-1.9-4.2-2.8-7-2.8s-5.1,0.9-7,2.8c-1.9,1.9-2.9,4.2-2.9,7.1 c0,2.9,1,5.2,2.9,7.1c1.9,1.9,4.2,2.8,7,2.8c2.7,0,4.9-0.9,6.8-2.6l2.6,1.7l2.2-3.3L85.5,28.7z M82.1,26.5L79.8,25l-2.2,3.3l2.3,1.5 c-1,0.7-2.1,1.1-3.5,1.1c-1.8,0-3.2-0.6-4.3-1.7c-1.1-1.2-1.6-2.7-1.6-4.6c0-1.9,0.5-3.4,1.6-4.6c1.1-1.2,2.5-1.7,4.3-1.7 c1.8,0,3.2,0.6,4.3,1.7c1.1,1.1,1.6,2.7,1.6,4.6C82.3,25.2,82.2,25.9,82.1,26.5z M103.2,27.3c0,1.2-0.3,2.1-0.9,2.8 c-0.6,0.6-1.5,1-2.5,1s-1.9-0.3-2.5-1c-0.6-0.6-0.9-1.6-0.9-2.8v-8.5h-3.9v9c0,2,0.6,3.7,1.7,4.8c1.1,1.2,2.5,1.7,4.3,1.7 c2.2,0,3.6-0.4,4.8-1.7v1.5h3.9V18.9h-3.9V27.3z M144.3,18.9c-2.2,0-3.6,0.4-4.8,1.7v-1.5h-3.9v15.4h3.9V26c0-1.2,0.3-2.1,0.9-2.8 c0.6-0.6,1.5-1,2.5-1c1.1,0,1.9,0.3,2.5,1c0.6,0.6,0.9,1.6,0.9,2.8v8.5h3.9v-9c0-2-0.6-3.7-1.7-4.8C147.4,19.5,146,18.9,144.3,18.9z M124.8,18.9v1.5c-0.8-0.8-2.7-1.7-4.8-1.7c-2.1,0-3.8,0.7-5.2,2.2c-1.4,1.5-2.1,3.4-2.1,5.7c0,2.3,0.7,4.2,2.1,5.7 c1.4,1.5,3.1,2.2,5.2,2.2c1.3,0,3-0.2,4.8-1.6v1.4h3.9V18.9H124.8z M123.6,29.9c-0.8,0.8-1.8,1.2-2.8,1.2c-1.1,0-2-0.4-2.8-1.2 c-0.8-0.8-1.2-1.9-1.2-3.3c0-1.4,0.4-2.5,1.2-3.3c0.8-0.8,1.8-1.2,2.8-1.2c1.1,0,2,0.4,2.9,1.2c0.8,0.8,1.2,1.9,1.2,3.3 C124.8,28,124.4,29.1,123.6,29.9z M180.1,18.9v1.5c-0.8-0.8-2.7-1.7-4.8-1.7c-2.1,0-3.8,0.7-5.2,2.2c-1.4,1.5-2.1,3.4-2.1,5.7 c0,2.3,0.7,4.2,2.1,5.7c1.4,1.5,3.1,2.2,5.2,2.2c1.3,0,3-0.2,4.8-1.6v1.4h3.9V18.9H180.1z M178.9,29.9c-0.8,0.8-1.8,1.2-2.8,1.2 c-1.1,0-2-0.4-2.8-1.2c-0.8-0.8-1.2-1.9-1.2-3.3c0-1.4,0.4-2.5,1.2-3.3C174,22.4,175,22,176,22c1.1,0,2,0.4,2.9,1.2 c0.8,0.8,1.2,1.9,1.2,3.3C180.1,28,179.7,29.1,178.9,29.9z M161.4,31c-1.1,0-1.9-0.7-1.9-2.1v-6.4h4.1v-3.2h-4.1v-4h-3.7v4v3.2v6.4 c0,3.7,2.1,5.5,5.3,5.4c1.1,0,2-0.2,3-0.6l-1-3.1C162.6,30.9,161.9,31,161.4,31z"></path> <path id="logo__magazine" class='transition--color text-999999' fill="currentColor" d="M218.3,33.5l-0.1,1c-1.1,0-2.4-0.1-3.9-0.1c-1.5,0-2.7,0.1-3.6,0.1v-1c1.6-0.1,2-0.3,2-0.9 c0.1-0.8,0.1-2.4,0.1-5.1c0-4.4,0-4.9-0.3-5.4c-0.4-0.9-1.2-1.4-2.4-1.4c-1.6,0-3,1-3.7,2.3c-0.2,0.5-0.4,0.9-0.4,1.5v4.7 c0,1.3,0,2.6,0.1,3.4c0,0.7,0.4,0.9,2.2,0.9l-0.1,1c-0.9,0-2.5-0.1-3.9-0.1c-1.4,0-2.6,0.1-3.5,0.1v-1c1.6-0.1,2-0.2,2-1 c0.1-1.1,0.1-2.2,0.1-4.4v-2.8c0-2.4,0-2.8-0.2-3.3c-0.4-0.9-1.1-1.3-2.3-1.3c-1.5,0-3,0.9-3.8,2.4c-0.3,0.6-0.4,0.9-0.4,1.7v4.6 c0,1.4,0,2.5,0.1,3.3c0.1,0.7,0.4,0.8,2.1,0.9l-0.1,0.9c-0.8,0-2.5-0.1-3.8-0.1c-1.3,0-2.6,0.1-3.7,0.1v-1c1.8,0,2.1-0.2,2.1-1 c0-0.9,0.1-2.3,0.1-4.2v-2.9c0-1.9,0-3.4-0.1-4.3c0-0.5-0.3-0.6-2.2-0.6l0.1-0.9c1.7,0,3.6-0.2,5.2-0.5c0.1,0.6,0.2,2.2,0.2,2.7 c1.3-1.3,3.2-2.9,5.7-2.9c2,0,2.9,0.8,3.4,1.5c0.3,0.4,0.5,0.9,0.6,1.3c1.2-1.2,3-2.8,5.7-2.8c2.1,0,3.3,1.1,3.8,2 c0.4,0.7,0.5,1.5,0.5,2.3v9.4C216,33.3,216.2,33.4,218.3,33.5z M238.4,31l0.9,0.4c-0.5,2.5-1.9,3.4-3.5,3.4c-1.8,0-2.5-1.1-2.7-2.6 c-1.5,1.7-3.4,2.6-5,2.6c-2.7,0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3c0-1.4,0.6-2.6,2-3.2c2.4-1,6-2.1,7.4-3.1v-1.4c0-1.5-0.7-3-2.7-3 c-2.1,0-3,1.1-3,2.5c0,0.4,0.1,0.8,0.1,1.1c0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.7c-0.3,0.2-0.7,0.4-1.2,0.4c-0.8,0-1.5-0.4-1.5-1.6 c0-1.8,2.6-4.1,6.4-4.1c3,0,4.3,1.3,4.7,2c0.3,0.5,0.5,1.2,0.5,1.8v8.9c0,1.3,0.4,1.5,0.8,1.5C237.5,33.1,238,32.4,238.4,31z M233,25.3c-1,0.5-2.8,1.3-4.1,2c-1.1,0.6-1.8,1.1-1.8,2.7c0,1.7,0.9,3,2.5,3c1.7,0,2.7-1,3.3-2.3c0.1-0.4,0.2-1,0.2-1.5V25.3z M255.8,27.1c-1.3,0-2.8-0.1-3.7-0.1l0,0.9l1.5,0.1c1.2,0.1,1.4,0.3,1.4,1.3c0,1,0,2.4-0.1,3.2c-0.1,0.8-1.1,1.3-2.5,1.3 c-1.5,0-2.8-0.5-3.8-1.8c-0.9-1.1-1.3-3.1-1.3-5.1c0-2.2,0.5-3.9,1.4-5.1c0.8-1.2,2-1.8,3.5-1.8c2.6,0,4.1,1.7,4.4,5l0.9,0 c-0.1-2.1,0.2-4.8,0.4-5.7l-0.8-0.3l-0.5,1.3c-0.5-0.5-1.8-1.4-4.3-1.4c-1.6,0-3,0.3-4.2,1c-2.4,1.3-3.8,3.9-3.8,7 c0,2.4,0.6,4.2,1.7,5.5c1.2,1.5,3.2,2.3,6.1,2.3c1.2,0,2.5-0.3,3.6-0.6c1-0.3,1.8-0.6,2.4-0.7c-0.1-0.5-0.2-1.3-0.2-2.5 c0-0.7,0-1.7,0.1-2.3c0-0.5,0.3-0.6,1.5-0.8l0-0.9C258.4,27.1,257.1,27.1,255.8,27.1z M279.4,31l0.9,0.4c-0.5,2.5-1.9,3.4-3.5,3.4 c-1.8,0-2.5-1.1-2.7-2.6c-1.5,1.7-3.4,2.6-5,2.6c-2.7,0-4.3-1.9-4.3-4.3c0-1.4,0.6-2.6,2-3.2c2.4-1,6-2.1,7.4-3.1v-1.4 c0-1.5-0.7-3-2.7-3c-2.1,0-3,1.1-3,2.5c0,0.4,0.1,0.8,0.1,1.1c0.1,0.3-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.7c-0.3,0.2-0.7,0.4-1.2,0.4 c-0.8,0-1.5-0.4-1.5-1.6c0-1.8,2.6-4.1,6.4-4.1c3,0,4.3,1.3,4.7,2c0.3,0.5,0.5,1.2,0.5,1.8v8.9c0,1.3,0.4,1.5,0.8,1.5 C278.5,33.1,279,32.4,279.4,31z M274,25.3c-1,0.5-2.8,1.3-4.1,2c-1.1,0.6-1.8,1.1-1.8,2.7c0,1.7,0.9,3,2.5,3c1.7,0,2.7-1,3.3-2.3 c0.1-0.4,0.2-1,0.2-1.5V25.3z M295.1,33c-1,0.2-2.8,0.3-5.6,0.3c1.8-2.8,7.1-10.8,7.9-12c0.4-0.7,0.8-1.4,0.9-2.1 c-1.4,0-2.6,0.1-5.3,0.1h-3c-2,0-3.2-0.1-3.8-0.4c0,2.1-0.2,4.4-0.4,5.8l0.9-0.2c0.2-0.8,0.4-1.7,0.7-2.6c0.4-1.1,0.9-1.4,2.4-1.5 c1.4-0.1,2.9-0.1,4.4-0.1c-0.9,1.8-5.2,8.8-9,13.4l0.4,0.7c0.6,0,1.7-0.1,3.7-0.1c3.8,0,7.8,0.1,9.1,0.2c0.1-1.6,0.4-4.3,0.6-5.8 l-0.9-0.2C297.3,32,296.5,32.9,295.1,33z M309.9,32.5c0-0.7-0.1-1.9-0.1-4.1v-4.1c0-2.6,0.1-4.6,0.1-5.4c-1.6,0.4-3.9,0.5-5.6,0.6 l0,0.9c1.9-0.1,2.2,0,2.2,0.5c0,0.5,0.1,1.7,0.1,3.6v3.9c0,2-0.1,3.5-0.1,4.1c0,0.6-0.3,0.9-2.4,1l0,1c1.1,0,2.1-0.1,3.8-0.1 c1.7,0,3,0.1,4,0.1l0-1C310.3,33.4,309.9,33.3,309.9,32.5z M332.9,32.5v-9.3c0-0.8-0.1-1.6-0.5-2.2c-0.5-1.1-1.7-2.1-4-2.1 c-2.5,0-4.2,1.5-5.5,2.7c0-0.5-0.1-1.9-0.2-2.6c-1.6,0.3-3.4,0.5-5.1,0.5l-0.1,0.9c1.8,0,2.1,0.1,2.1,0.6c0.1,0.9,0.1,2.4,0.1,4.3 v3.1c0,1.7-0.1,3-0.1,4c0,0.8-0.3,0.9-2.1,1v1c1,0,2.2-0.1,3.7-0.1c1.3,0,3,0.1,3.9,0.1l0.1-1c-1.8-0.1-2.1-0.2-2.1-0.9 c-0.1-0.8-0.1-2.2-0.1-3.7v-4.1c0-0.8,0.1-1.3,0.4-1.8c0.8-1.4,2.1-2.2,3.8-2.2c1.2,0,1.9,0.5,2.4,1.3c0.3,0.6,0.4,1,0.4,5.4 c0,2.8-0.1,4.4-0.1,5.1c-0.1,0.7-0.4,0.8-2,0.9l0,1c0.8,0,2-0.1,3.6-0.1c1.5,0,2.8,0.1,3.9,0.1l0.1-1 C333.1,33.4,332.9,33.3,332.9,32.5z M352.5,29.8l0.9,0.5c-1.1,3.2-3.3,4.5-6.3,4.5c-2.7,0-4.4-0.8-5.6-2.4c-0.9-1.2-1.5-3.2-1.5-5.3 c0-4.4,2.5-8.3,7.4-8.3c5.1,0,6,4,6,6.1c0,0.7-0.2,1.2-0.7,1.4c-0.6,0.2-2.3,0.4-4.6,0.5c-1.2,0-3.1,0-4.6,0 c-0.1,1.9,0.4,3.6,1.1,4.6c0.8,1.2,1.9,1.8,3.5,1.8C350.3,33.2,351.6,32.2,352.5,29.8z M343.6,25.7h2.9c1.7,0,2.6-0.1,3.1-0.2 c0.5-0.1,0.7-0.5,0.7-1.2c0-1.9-0.8-4.4-3.1-4.4C344.8,19.9,343.7,22.8,343.6,25.7z"></path> </g></svg> </a> </div> <div class='footer__social flex flex-justify-center scale0'> <div class='social-links flex flex-justify-between flex-items-center social-links--footer'> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/QuantaNews' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative facebook mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Facebook</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M13 16.5h5.1v-5c-.2-2.7.3-5.4 1.7-7.7 1.8-2.5 4.9-4 8-3.8 3.1-.1 6.2.2 9.2 1l-1.3 7.7C34.4 8.3 33 8 31.6 8c-2 0-3.8.7-3.8 2.7v5.9H36l-.6 7.5h-7.6V50h-9.6V23.9H13v-7.4z"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://twitter.com/QuantaMagazine' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative twitter mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg class="absolute fit-x mxa " viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>X Twitter</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M50 9.9c-1.9.8-3.8 1.3-5.9 1.6 2.1-1.3 3.7-3.2 4.5-5.6-2 1.2-4.2 2-6.5 2.5-3.8-4.1-10.3-4.5-14.5-.8-2.8 2.5-4 6.3-3.1 10-8.2-.5-15.8-4.3-21-10.6-2.7 4.6-1.3 10.5 3.2 13.5C5 20.4 3.4 20 2 19.2c0 4.8 3.4 8.9 8.2 9.9-.9.2-1.8.4-2.7.3-.6 0-1.3-.1-1.9-.2 1.3 4.1 5.2 6.9 9.5 7C10.8 39.5 5.4 41 0 40.4c13.5 8.5 31.5 4.6 40.2-8.7 3-4.6 4.6-10 4.6-15.5v-1.3c2-1.3 3.7-3.1 5.2-5"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://www.youtube.com/c/QuantaScienceChannel' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative youtube mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50" > <title>Youtube</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M18.7 33.7V16.1l15.7 8.8-15.7 8.8zM43.3 8.2c-12.2-.9-24.4-.9-36.6 0-1.8.2-3.4 1.2-4.3 2.8C1.3 12.5.6 14.3.3 16.2c-.5 5.9-.5 11.8 0 17.7.2 1.9.9 3.7 2.1 5.2 1 1.5 2.5 2.6 4.3 2.9 12.2.8 24.4.8 36.6 0 1.8-.4 3.3-1.5 4.3-3 1.1-1.5 1.8-3.3 2.1-5.1.5-6 .5-12.1 0-18.1-.2-1.8-.8-3.6-1.9-5.1-1-1.6-2.7-2.5-4.5-2.5z"></path></svg></div> </a> <a href='https://instagram.com/quantamag' target="_blank" class='social-links__link flex flex-items-center relative instagram mh05 theme__accent theme__text-hover transition--color'> <div class='icon-button inline-block relative pointer '> <div class='absolute fit-x mxa '> </div> <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="c-1a1a1a absolute fit-x mxa " viewBox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" width="50" height="50" > <title>Instagram</title> <path fill="currentColor" d="M33.4 0H16.6C7.5 0 0 7.5 0 16.6v16.8C0 42.5 7.5 50 16.6 50h16.8C42.5 50 50 42.5 50 33.4V16.6C50 7.5 42.5 0 33.4 0zM25 36.6c-6.4 0-11.6-5.2-11.6-11.6S18.6 13.4 25 13.4 36.6 18.6 36.6 25 31.4 36.6 25 36.6zm15.1-23.2c-1.8 0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2S38.3 7 40.1 7s3.2 1.4 3.2 3.2c0 1.7-1.5 3.2-3.2 3.2z"></path></svg></div> </a> </div> </div> </section> <section class='outer footer__section footer__section--bottom flex flex-wrap flex-justify-center flex-items-center pt2 outer--content'> <nav class='footer__nav fill-h'> <ul class='footer__list flex flex-column flex-items-center flex-justify-center gray3'> <li class='footer__list-item mb1'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/about/' class='footer__link h5 pangram gray3 flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 light'> <span>About Quanta</span> </a> </li> <li class='footer__list-item mb1'> <a href='/archive' class='footer__link h5 pangram gray3 flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 light'> <span>Archive</span> </a> </li> <li class='footer__list-item mb1'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/contact-us/' class='footer__link h5 pangram gray3 flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 light'> <span>Contact Us</span> </a> </li> <li class='footer__list-item mb1'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/terms-conditions/' class='footer__link h5 pangram gray3 flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 light'> <span>Terms & Conditions</span> </a> </li> <li class='footer__list-item mb1'> <a href='https://www.quantamagazine.org/privacy-policy/' class='footer__link h5 pangram gray3 flex flex-items-center relative mh05 ph025 light'> <span>Privacy Policy</span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </section> <hr class='footer__section-divider hide gray2'> <section class='outer footer__section outer--content pt125--s pt0875--slmax pb2813 ph25--mmax flex flex-items-center flex-justify-between flex-column--smax outer--content'> <div class='flex flex-justify-center'> <div class='footer__copyright flex-shrink h5 pangram gray3 light'> <small>All Rights Reserved © 2024</small> </div> </div> <div class='footer__support flex g093 flex-justify-center gray3'> <em class='footer__text scale6'>An editorially independent publication supported by the Simons Foundation.</em> <a href='https://www.simonsfoundation.org'> <span class='screen-reader-text'>Simons Foundation</span> <svg width="78" height="22" viewBox="0 0 71 20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <g clip-path="url(#clip0_53_3732)"> <path d="M1.00378 19.9386V16.7742H3.17876V17.1368H1.43878V18.1867H2.80901V18.546H1.43878V19.9369L1.00378 19.9386Z"/> <path d="M9.38237 19.9999C8.44881 19.9999 7.79297 19.3375 7.79297 18.3573C7.79297 17.377 8.44881 16.7146 9.38237 16.7146C10.3159 16.7146 10.9701 17.377 10.9701 18.3573C10.9701 19.3375 10.3109 19.9999 9.38237 19.9999ZM9.38237 17.0855C8.6914 17.0855 8.24469 17.5823 8.24469 18.3573C8.24469 19.1322 8.6914 19.6273 9.38237 19.6273C10.0733 19.6273 10.5134 19.1306 10.5134 18.3573C10.5134 17.5839 10.0717 17.0855 9.38237 17.0855Z"/> <path d="M15.864 18.7281V16.7742H16.3007V18.7331C16.3007 19.3359 16.6002 19.6323 17.159 19.6323C17.7178 19.6323 18.0256 19.3359 18.0256 18.7381V16.7742H18.4573V18.7281C18.4573 19.6521 17.8784 19.9999 17.159 19.9999C16.4395 19.9999 15.864 19.6521 15.864 18.7281Z" /> <path d="M25.7048 19.1951V16.7742H26.1164V19.9386H25.765L23.9079 17.3968V19.9386H23.498V16.7742H23.9548L25.7048 19.1951Z"/> <path d="M31.2026 16.7742H32.3587C33.3626 16.7742 33.9983 17.367 33.9983 18.3572C33.9983 19.3474 33.3642 19.9386 32.3587 19.9386H31.2026V16.7742ZM32.3336 19.5892C33.1149 19.5892 33.5416 19.1322 33.5416 18.3638C33.5416 17.5955 33.1149 17.1385 32.3336 17.1385H31.6443V19.5892H32.3336Z" /> <path d="M40.3204 16.7742L41.6589 19.9386H41.1921L40.8056 19.0096H39.3484L38.9736 19.9386H38.5303L39.8353 16.7742H40.3204ZM39.4839 18.6636H40.6551L40.0712 17.2577H40.0511L39.4839 18.6636Z" /> <path d="M47.0532 19.9386V17.1368H45.8904V16.7742H48.671V17.1368H47.4881V19.9386H47.0532Z"/> <path d="M53.9964 16.7742V19.9386H53.5547V16.7742H53.9964Z"/> <path d="M60.5228 19.9999C59.5892 19.9999 58.9333 19.3375 58.9333 18.3573C58.9333 17.377 59.5892 16.7146 60.5228 16.7146C61.4563 16.7146 62.1105 17.377 62.1105 18.3573C62.1105 19.3375 61.4513 19.9999 60.5228 19.9999ZM60.5228 17.0855C59.8318 17.0855 59.3851 17.5823 59.3851 18.3573C59.3851 19.1322 59.8318 19.6273 60.5228 19.6273C61.2137 19.6273 61.6537 19.1306 61.6537 18.3573C61.6537 17.5839 61.2121 17.0855 60.5228 17.0855Z"/> <path d="M69.2531 19.1951V16.7742H69.663V19.9386H69.3133L67.4562 17.3968V19.9386H67.0447V16.7742H67.5014L69.2531 19.1951Z"/> <path d="M2.46789 8.77673C2.57497 10.8567 4.09753 11.7906 5.98149 11.7906C7.65463 11.7906 8.72879 11.1282 8.72879 10.0071C8.72879 8.9887 7.9123 8.60617 6.49682 8.32962L3.9252 7.856C1.82373 7.47347 0.364745 6.32753 0.364745 4.11844C0.364745 1.61459 2.35913 0 5.52138 0C9.05338 0 11.0428 1.80503 11.0913 4.77752L8.62506 4.86198C8.53805 3.04039 7.33674 2.08158 5.49293 2.08158C3.90512 2.08158 3.01166 2.78206 3.01166 3.928C3.01166 4.90504 3.7194 5.25279 4.94247 5.47801L7.43211 5.92347C10.0824 6.41198 11.3272 7.66557 11.3272 9.8316C11.3272 12.4646 9.03163 13.8871 5.98484 13.8871C2.50972 13.8871 0 12.1036 0 8.87609L2.46789 8.77673Z"/> <path d="M15.3578 0.254883V13.632H12.6808V0.254883H15.3578Z"/> <path d="M33.7976 13.632C32.7569 12.8475 31.9133 11.8357 31.3326 10.6756C30.7519 9.51539 30.4498 8.23815 30.4498 6.94342C30.4498 5.64869 30.7519 4.37145 31.3326 3.21128C31.9133 2.0511 32.7569 1.03935 33.7976 0.254883H27.2623L24.4531 9.97884H24.3878L21.428 0.254883H17.2017V13.632H19.6896V3.09987H19.775L23.0794 13.632H25.375L28.6108 3.09987H28.6962V13.632H33.7976Z"/> <path d="M61.8117 8.77779C61.9188 10.858 63.4432 11.792 65.3257 11.792C66.9991 11.792 68.0717 11.1296 68.0717 10.0083C68.0717 8.98978 67.2568 8.6072 65.8411 8.33062L63.2658 7.86357C61.1624 7.48099 59.705 6.33491 59.705 4.12556C59.71 1.61478 61.7046 0 64.8589 0C68.3997 0 70.3943 1.80524 70.4428 4.7781L67.9746 4.86256C67.8893 3.04076 66.6878 2.08183 64.8421 2.08183C63.2541 2.08183 62.3539 2.78239 62.3539 3.92847C62.3539 4.90562 63.0617 5.25342 64.2849 5.47866L66.7615 5.92418C69.4221 6.41275 70.667 7.66649 70.667 9.83278C70.667 12.4661 68.3712 13.8888 65.3241 13.8888C61.8485 13.8888 59.3385 12.1051 59.3385 8.87716L61.8117 8.77779Z"/> <path d="M55.7641 0.254883V9.17345L49.3702 0.254883H44.0958C45.1366 1.03944 45.9803 2.05132 46.5611 3.21163C47.1419 4.37194 47.444 5.64933 47.444 6.94422C47.444 8.23911 47.1419 9.5165 46.5611 10.6768C45.9803 11.8371 45.1366 12.849 44.0958 13.6336H49.1912V4.20489L56.1004 13.6336H58.2456V0.254883H55.7641Z" /> </g></svg> </a> </div> </section> </div> </section> </footer> <section class='modal-portal hidden ' data-function='toggle' data-name='nav-account'> <div class='modal flex login flex-items-start'> <div class='modal__overlay fixed inset-0 z-0'> </div> <div class='modal__content bg-white mha is-open is-visible relative size--large'> <div class='modal__close align-r pt1 pr1 absolute fit-r fit-t z10 transition--color theme__accent theme__text-hover'> <button class='px1' data-function='trigger' data-name='nav-account'> <svg class="icon inline-block" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve"><title>Close</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M29.8,25l19.6,19.6l-4.8,4.8L25,29.8L5.4,49.4l-4.8-4.8L20.2,25L0.6,5.4l4.8-4.8L25,20.2L44.6,0.6l4.8,4.8L29.8,25z"></path></svg> </button> </div> <div class='login-modal' role='dialog' aria-labelledby='login-dialog-title'> <div class='noe h0 align-c mt0 mb1' id='login-dialog-title'>Log in to Quanta</div> <div class='login__error fill-h px2 theme__accent bg-gray1 h5 pangram uppercase kern align-c mb3 medium hidden'></div> <div class='login-modal__inner flex flex-wrap'> <div class='login-modal__left'> <h2 class='bold login-modal__social-title mt0'>Use your social network</h2> <div class='facebook-blue'> <a href='/mechanix?loginSocial=facebook' data-provider='facebook'> <button class='button button--border pangram bold scale5 fill-h flex flex-items-center hover--black'> <svg class="icon mr1 icon-offset" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Facebook</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M13 16.5h5.1v-5c-.2-2.7.3-5.4 1.7-7.7 1.8-2.5 4.9-4 8-3.8 3.1-.1 6.2.2 9.2 1l-1.3 7.7C34.4 8.3 33 8 31.6 8c-2 0-3.8.7-3.8 2.7v5.9H36l-.6 7.5h-7.6V50h-9.6V23.9H13v-7.4z"></path></svg> <span>Connect with Facebook</span> </button> </a> </div> <div class='google-red mt1'> <a href='/mechanix?loginSocial=google' data-provider='google'> <button class='button button--border pangram bold scale5 fill-h flex flex-items-center hover--black'> <svg class='icon mr1 icon-offset' x='0px' y='0px' viewBox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50' xml:space='preserve'><path fill='currentColor' d='M28.4,22.9c0.1,0.7,0.2,1.5,0.2,2.4c0,8.3-5.6,14.2-14,14.2C6.5,39.6,0,33.1,0,25c0-8.1,6.5-14.6,14.6-14.6 c3.9,0,7.2,1.4,9.8,3.8l-4,3.8c-1.1-1-3-2.2-5.8-2.2c-5,0-9,4.1-9,9.2c0,5.1,4.1,9.2,9,9.2c5.8,0,7.9-4.1,8.3-6.3h-8.3v-5H28.4z M43.8,22.9l0-6.2l-4.2,0l0,6.2l-6.2,0l0,4.2l6.2,0l0,6.2l4.2,0l0-6.2l6.2,0l0-4.2L43.8,22.9z'></path></svg> <span>Connect with Google</span> </button> </a> </div> </div> <div class='login-modal__center'> <span class='login-modal__center__or gray2 italic mbold'>or</span> </div> <div class='login-modal__right'> <form class='login-form'> <div class='input-container'> <input type='email' name='login_email' id='login_email' value='' class='' autocomplete='off' required> <label for='login_email' data-label='email'>email</label> </div> <div class='input-container'> <input type='password' name='login_password' id='login_password' value='' class='' required> <label for='login_password' data-label='password'>password</label> </div> <div class='checkbox-container'> <input type='checkbox' value='login_remember' id='login_remember' name='login_remember' readonly checked> <i class='psuedo-checkbox'></i> <label for='login_remember'>Remember me</label> </div> <div class='login-modal__submit'> <input type='submit' class='button login__submit orange mr1' value='Log in' disabled> <p class='theme__accent link scale5 pangram inline medium color-transition hover--black' data-function='trigger' data-name='forgot-password'> <span class='no-wrap' aria-haspopup='dialog'>Forgot your password ?</span> <svg class='icon ml05 icon icon-offset' viewbox='0 0 50 50' enable-background='new 0 0 50 50'><path fill='currentColor' d='M50 25l-17.4-8.7v6.5H0v4.4h32.6v6.5'></path></svg> </p> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class='login__signup fill-h align-c h4 pangram bold'>Don't have an account yet? <span class='theme__accent link no-wrap color-transition hover--black' aria-haspopup='dialog' data-function='trigger' data-name='sign-up'> Sign up</span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class='modal-portal hidden ' data-function='toggle' data-name='forgot-password'> <div class='modal flex forgot-password flex-items-start'> <div class='modal__overlay fixed inset-0 z-0'> </div> <div class='modal__content bg-white mha is-open is-visible relative size--small'> <div class='modal__close align-r pt1 pr1 absolute fit-r fit-t z10 transition--color theme__accent theme__text-hover'> <button class='px1' data-function='trigger' data-name='forgot-password'> <svg class="icon inline-block" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve"><title>Close</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M29.8,25l19.6,19.6l-4.8,4.8L25,29.8L5.4,49.4l-4.8-4.8L20.2,25L0.6,5.4l4.8-4.8L25,20.2L44.6,0.6l4.8,4.8L29.8,25z"></path></svg> </button> </div> <div class='forgot-password-modal align-l' role='dialog' aria-labelledby='forgot-password-dialog-title'> <div class='forgot-password-modal__inner'> <div class='noe h0 mt0 mb025' id='forgot-password-dialog-title'>Forgot your password?</div> <p class='italic gray4 mt0'>We’ll email you instructions to reset your password</p> </div> <div class='modal__error fill-h px2 mb2 theme__accent bg-gray1 h5 pangram uppercase kern align-c medium hidden'> <div class='forgot-password-modal__inner'></div> </div> <div class='forgot-password-message'></div> <div class='forgot-password-modal__inner'> <form class='forgot-password-form'> <div class='input-container'> <input type='email' name='forgot_password_email' id='forgot_password_email' value='' required> <label for='forgot_password_email' data-label='email'>email</label> </div> <input type='submit' class='login__submit button orange' value='Send' disabled> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class='modal-portal hidden ' data-function='toggle' data-name='reset-password'> <div class='modal flex reset-password flex-items-start'> <div class='modal__overlay fixed inset-0 z-0'> </div> <div class='modal__content bg-white mha is-open is-visible relative size--small'> <div class='modal__close align-r pt1 pr1 absolute fit-r fit-t z10 transition--color theme__accent theme__text-hover'> <button class='px1' data-function='trigger' data-name='reset-password'> <svg class="icon inline-block" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve"><title>Close</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M29.8,25l19.6,19.6l-4.8,4.8L25,29.8L5.4,49.4l-4.8-4.8L20.2,25L0.6,5.4l4.8-4.8L25,20.2L44.6,0.6l4.8,4.8L29.8,25z"></path></svg> </button> </div> <div class='reset-password-modal align-l'> <div class='reset-password-modal__inner'> <div class='noe h0 mt0 mb025'>Change your password</div> <p class='italic gray4 mt0'>Enter your new password</p> </div> <div class='reset-password-message'></div> <div class='modal__error fill-h px2 mb2 theme__accent bg-gray1 h5 pangram uppercase kern hidden'> <div class='reset-password-modal__inner'></div> </div> <div class='reset-password-modal__inner'> <form class='reset-password-form'> <div class='input-container'> <input type='password' name='new_password' id='new_password' value='' class='password' required> <label for='new_password' data-label='Password'>Password</label> </div> <div class='input-container'> <input type='password' name='new_password_verify' id='new_password_verify' value='' class='password-verify' required> <label for='new_password_verify' data-label='Retype new password'>Retype new password</label> </div> <input type='submit' class='login__submit button orange' value='Send' disabled> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class='modal-portal hidden ' data-function='toggle' data-name='sign-up'> <div class='modal flex sign-up flex-items-start'> <div class='modal__overlay fixed inset-0 z-0'> </div> <div class='modal__content bg-white mha is-open is-visible relative size--small'> <div class='modal__close align-r pt1 pr1 absolute fit-r fit-t z10 transition--color theme__accent theme__text-hover'> <button class='px1' data-function='trigger' data-name='sign-up'> <svg class="icon inline-block" x="0px" y="0px" viewbox="0 0 50 50" enable-background="new 0 0 50 50" xml:space="preserve"><title>Close</title><path fill="currentColor" d="M29.8,25l19.6,19.6l-4.8,4.8L25,29.8L5.4,49.4l-4.8-4.8L20.2,25L0.6,5.4l4.8-4.8L25,20.2L44.6,0.6l4.8,4.8L29.8,25z"></path></svg> </button> </div> <div class='signup-modal' role='dialog' aria-labelledby='signup-dialog-title'> <div class='signup-modal__inner'> <div class='noe h0 align-c mt0 mb1' id='signup-dialog-title'>Sign Up</div> </div> <div class='modal__error fill-h px2 mb2 theme__accent bg-gray1 h5 pangram uppercase kern align-c medium hidden'> <div class='signup-modal__inner'></div> </div> <div class='signup-modal__inner'> <form class='sign-up-form'> <div class='input-container'> <input type='text' name='sign_up_first_name' id='sign_up_first_name' value='' class='' required> <label for='sign_up_first_name' data-label='First Name'>First Name</label> </div> <div class='input-container'> <input type='text' name='sign_up_last_name' id='sign_up_last_name' value='' class='' required> <label for='sign_up_last_name' data-label='Last Name'>Last Name</label> </div> <div class='input-container'> <input type='email' name='sign_up_email' id='sign_up_email' value='' class='' required> <label for='sign_up_email' data-label='Email'>Email</label> </div> <div class='input-container'> <input type='password' name='sign_up_password' id='sign_up_password' value='' class='password' required> <label for='sign_up_password' data-label='Password'>Password</label> </div> <div class='input-container'> <input type='password' name='sign_up_password_verify' id='sign_up_password_verify' value='' class='password-verify' required> <label for='sign_up_password_verify' data-label='Retype Password'>Retype Password</label> </div> <div class='align-c pv1'> <input type='submit' class='button login__submit orange mr1' value='Create an account' disabled> </div> </form> <div class='px2 gray3 pangram align-c light signup-modal__terms'> Creating an account means you accept Quanta Magazine's <br /> <a class='theme__accent link' href='/terms-conditions'>Terms & Conditions</a> and <a class='theme__accent link' href='/privacy-policy'>Privacy Policy</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/quanta-education-interactive/jquery.validate.min.js?ver=6.6.2" id="jquery-validate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="edin-js-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var EDIN = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/www.quantamagazine.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/quanta-education-interactive/edin.js?ver=6.6.2" id="edin-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="privacy-consent-front-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var privacyArgs = {"hideEffect":"fade","cookieTime":"2592000","secure":"1"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/sf-privacy-consent/js/front.min.js?ver=1.10" id="privacy-consent-front-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="main-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var qAjax = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/www.quantamagazine.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/themes/quanta2024/frontend/dist/main.min.js?ver=1730911106" id="main-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/themes/quanta2024/frontend/js/mathjax/MathJax.js" id="mathjax-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="favorites-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var favorites_data = {"ajaxurl":"https:\/\/www.quantamagazine.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","nonce":"ad6a3e0bb9","favorite":"Favorite","favorited":"Favorited","includecount":"","indicate_loading":"","loading_text":"Loading","loading_image":"","loading_image_active":"","loading_image_preload":"","cache_enabled":"1","button_options":{"button_type":"custom","custom_colors":false,"box_shadow":false,"include_count":false,"default":{"background_default":false,"border_default":false,"text_default":false,"icon_default":false,"count_default":false},"active":{"background_active":false,"border_active":false,"text_active":false,"icon_active":false,"count_active":false}},"authentication_modal_content":"<p>Please login to add favorites.<\/p><p><a href=\"#\" data-favorites-modal-close>Dismiss this notice<\/a><\/p>","authentication_redirect":"","dev_mode":"","logged_in":"","user_id":"0","authentication_redirect_url":"https:\/\/www.quantamagazine.org\/mechanix\/"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.quantamagazine.org/wp-content/plugins/quanta-favorites/assets/js/favorites.min.js?ver=2.3.4" id="favorites-js"></script> <div role="banner" class="sf-top sf-fixed-bar"><div class="sf-fixed-bar-container"><div class="sf-fixed-bar-text-wrapper"><span class="sf-notice-text">We care about your data, and we'd like to use cookies to give you a smooth browsing experience. Please agree and read more about our <a href='/privacy-policy'>privacy policy.</a></span><a href="#" data-cookie-value="true" data-function="sf-set-consent" class="sf-button" >AGREE</a><a href="#" data-cookie-value="revoke" data-function="sf-set-consent" class="sf-button">DISMISS</a></div></div></div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Shi En Kim | Quanta Magazine