In May 2026, OpenAI released a new math result that sent shock waves throughout the world of mathematical research. A major unsolved problem called the “unit distance conjecture” had just been resolved by generative AI. Since then, there has been a steady drumbeat of new results that either partially or completely leverage artificial intelligence to solve research-level mathematics problems. […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
A new ‘golden age’ of mathematics may be dawning — thanks to AI and human ingenuity
College professors face an emerging challenge: We know students are no longer reading entire books
Anyone who has spent time on a college campus lately has probably heard laments from faculty about their students’ reading habits, or rather nonreading habits. Such complaints are more than an unfounded nostalgia for a bygone age. Reading – not just any kind of reading, but reading long, complex, challenging books – is quickly vanishing from the American […] … learn more→
New Trump administration rules on federal science funding could make American research slower, costlier and harder to share
Most Americans don’t read the rules that govern the federal grants funding science. Those rules, called the Uniform Guidance, shape how cancer research is funded, graduate students are trained, clinical trials are sustained, universities stock their labs and discoveries from those labs move into broader society. When the Trump administration announced on May 29, 2026, its […] … learn more→
Is there really a global loneliness epidemic? Research reveals a more complex picture
Few human experiences are as universal – or as poorly understood – as loneliness. More than just a blue feeling and the inspiration for countless songs, it’s linked to poorer wellbeing, worse mental and physical health and a higher risk of early death. Even in the age of social media, we hear of loneliness being on the rise everywhere – to the extent […] … learn more→
Inequality in learning, data protection and assessment criteria: the three ethical dilemmas of AI in the classroom
Artificial intelligence is already in university classrooms: many professors use these tools to prepare classes, design activities, and answer questions. They are also used to write student papers. Every day, this use involves making decisions that are not only technical but also ethical, and that affect large groups of people with very different backgrounds. Several […] … learn more→
From selling innovation to selling results: the new business model of AI giants
For the past two years, we’ve talked a lot about productivity. Productivity of programmers , lawyers , doctors , consultants , financiers , teachers , and even students . The promise was simple: give me an artificial intelligence tool and I’ll do more in less time. It’s true that an employee with access to a good generative model can type faster, summarize better, program with assistance, or prepare reports […] … learn more→
Academic (mis)uses of GenAI
“I think because it’s not openly discussed and yet it’s so easy to use, I feel guilty. I question if I’m cheating somehow? Or going to get caught?” (#116) We ran a short anonymous survey between December 2025 and March 2026 focusing on ‘grey uses’ of GenAI – aspects of AI use that academics feel […] … learn more→
Why do some people who trust in science also believe in scientific conspiracy theories?
In a world where trust in institutions is mostly in decline, levels of trust in science remain relatively high. Yet at the same time, belief in scientific conspiracy theories, such as hushed-up effects of vaccines or aeroplane “chemtrails”, is also widespread. What explains this apparent contradiction? Our work suggests we need to ask a different question – not how much people […] … learn more→
When will we start taking into account what AI feels?
More and more people are talking to artificial intelligence (AI) systems as if they were friends, advisors, or confidants . Some users turn to chatbots for psychological help, and many rely on conversational assistants for tasks that were previously reserved for human experts. We stopped considering these behaviors as oddities a long time ago. However, perhaps we […] … learn more→
Student health: more than one in two enter university with a physical or mental vulnerability
Starting university is often presented as a period of emancipation. For many young people, it marks the beginning of greater autonomy, new encounters, and more freedom. But this transition also comes with numerous challenges : moving away from the family environment, new responsibilities, increased expenses, first jobs, a heavier workload, and uncertainties about the future. These changes […] … learn more→
