{"ok":true,"trend":{"id":514322,"platform":"hn","region":"global","key":"mathematicians harness randomness to crack a 55-year-old conjecture","title":"Mathematicians Harness Randomness to Crack a 55-Year-Old Conjecture","url":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/mathematicians-harness-randomness-to-crack-a-55-year-old-conjecture-20260928/","first_seen":"2026-09-30T18:30:45.255984Z","last_seen":"2026-10-01T23:16:14.759313Z","last_rank":9,"peak_rank":8,"last_volume":6,"peak_volume":6,"seen_count":22,"score":72.07,"category_hint":"physics","section":"science","category":"physics","summary":"Mathematicians have resolved a conjecture that stood open for 55 years by using probabilistic methods, according to a new write-up. Rather than constructing an explicit object, the proof reportedly harnesses randomness to show the desired outcome must exist. The result is drawing attention for demonstrating how chance-based arguments can settle questions that deterministic approaches resisted for decades.","why":"A decades-old open problem in mathematics has reportedly been solved using novel probabilistic techniques, which is rare and notable news.","tone":"positive","entities":["mathematics","Quanta Magazine"],"summarized_at":"2026-10-01T18:40:11.841494Z","meta":{"via":"scan","lang":"en","link":"https://www.quantamagazine.org/mathematicians-harness-randomness-to-crack-a-55-year-old-conjecture-20260928/","term":"quantum","comments":0},"nw":null,"promo":null,"kind":null,"importance":null,"hidden":false,"hide_reason":null,"judged_at":null,"title_en":"Mathematicians Use Randomness to Prove 55-Year-Old Conjecture","section_name":"Science","category_name":"Physics","timeline":[{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T18:30:45.255984Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T19:52:45.246650Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T21:15:05.149732Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T22:37:04.897788Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-09-30T23:59:04.990615Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T01:21:05.532546Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T02:43:05.535756Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T04:05:05.384204Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T05:27:45.972911Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T06:49:45.640563Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T08:12:11.141168Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T09:34:25.070989Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T10:56:25.286437Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T12:18:50.010060Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T13:41:10.047309Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T15:03:10.197274Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T16:25:10.187605Z","rank":8,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T17:47:10.017457Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T19:09:32.780751Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T20:32:14.415844Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T21:54:14.522646Z","rank":9,"volume":6},{"captured_at":"2026-10-01T23:16:14.759313Z","rank":9,"volume":6}],"posts":[{"platform":"hn","url":"https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49902581","author":"tzury","title":"Mathematicians Harness Randomness to Crack a 55-Year-Old Conjecture","snippet":null,"posted_at":"2026-09-30T00:04:48Z","likes":6}],"elsewhere":[],"window":"7d"}}