Passer au contenu principal
Tangente

The questions are still open!

Most physical theories were imagined abstractly before being (or not) validated, sometimes a long time after, by observations. Even today, explorations continue and propose new visions of our world, which will one day be confirmed or disproved. It is often daring mathematicians who have ventured into what is apparently not their territory, although the two disciplines were very close until the last century. Yet, who better than these adventurers of abstract concepts can uncover a hidden law? Among them, a woman, Emmy Noether, knew how to base a part of physics on the research and study of invariants, thus becoming a pioneer of modern mathematical physics. Some of David Hilbert's celebrated problems are also in connection with physics.

All articles  in this folder

Quantum computers: a threat to encryption | Tangente

Quantum computers: a threat to encryption | Tangente

Internet communications are currently secured by symmetric encryption systems such as AES, whose keys are transmitted using an asymmetric encryption system such as RSA.

Hervé LehningJul 10, 2019
Cosmology and polyhedra: Plato to Kepler | Tangente

Cosmology and polyhedra: Plato to Kepler | Tangente

Regular polyhedra appear in many theories. These five solids fascinate us with their remarkable symmetries.

Jean-Jacques DupasJul 10, 2019
The unforgettable Emmy Noether

The unforgettable Emmy Noether

A strong-willed woman and visionary mathematician, Emmy Noether defied many restrictions throughout her life and opened up new fields in mathematics and physics.

ELISABETH BUSSERJul 10, 2019
Hilbert, the twenty-three problems and physics

Hilbert, the twenty-three problems and physics

In his plenary address at the second International Congress of Mathematicians in 1900, David Hilbert presented the world with his famous "twenty-three problems." Some relate directly to physics; others have driven advances in both physics and mathematics.

ELISABETH BUSSERJul 11, 2019
What if our universe were a hologram? | Tangente

What if our universe were a hologram? | Tangente

Our universe could be a sphere whose exterior would resemble a black hole. Our world would merely be the reflection of a reality inscribed on the surface of this sphere—a kind of hologram. All information would be encoded on our cosmic horizon. A scenario that may not be so far-fetched after all…

JEAN LOUIS LEGRANDJul 11, 2019
Loop quantum gravity

Loop quantum gravity

What if our universe were actually discrete? If confirmed, a bold theory known as loop quantum gravity could reconcile the physics of macroscopic gravitational fields with quantum physics. Spin plays a fundamental role in this theory.

DANIEL JUSTENSJul 15, 2019