The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. At the turn of the 20th century, the renowned mathematician David Hilbert had a grand ambition to bring a more rigorous, mathematical ...

At the turn of the 20th century, the renowned mathematician David Hilbert had a grand ambition to bring a more rigorous, mathematical way of thinking into the world of physics. At the time, physicists ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Hilbert's sixth problem was one of the loftiest. He called for "axiomatizing" physics, or ...

When tech founders start weighing in on school subjects, students tend to pay attention. In a recent X exchange that sparked curiosity and classroom debates, Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, shared a ...