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After 20 Years, Math Couple Solves Major Group Theory Problem

In 2003, a German graduate student named Britta Späth encountered the McKay conjecture, one of the biggest open problems in the mathematical realm known as group theory. At first her goals were...

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Years After the Early Death of a Math Genius, Her Ideas Gain New Life

In the early 2000s, a young graduate student at Harvard University began to chart an exotic mathematical universe — one inhabited by shapes that defy geometric intuition. Her name was Maryam...

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‘Once in a Century’ Proof Settles Math’s Kakeya Conjecture

Consider a pencil lying on your desk. Try to spin it around so that it points once in every direction, but make sure it sweeps over as little of the desk’s surface as possible. You might twirl the...

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Three Hundred Years Later, a Tool from Isaac Newton Gets an Update

Every day, researchers search for optimal solutions. They might want to figure out where to build a major airline hub. Or to determine how to maximize return while minimizing risk in an investment...

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A New Proof Smooths Out the Math of Melting

Imagine an ice cube floating in a glass of water. Eventually, it will melt down to a tiny frozen speck before disappearing. As it shrinks, its surface gets smoother, and any irregularities or sharp...

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