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Kevin Hartnett

Kevin Hartnett

Contributing Writer

Diagram showing a colorful visualization of the simple Lie group
Abstractions blog

The ‘Useless’ Perspective That Transformed Mathematics

By Kevin Hartnett
June 9, 2020
Read Later

Representation theory was initially dismissed. Today, it’s central to much of mathematics.

Photo of various colorful maps
Abstractions blog

In Mathematics, It Often Takes a Good Map to Find Answers

By Kevin Hartnett
June 1, 2020
Read Later

Mathematicians try to figure out when problems can be solved using current knowledge — and when they have to chart a new path instead.

Photo of iron filings spread along magnetic field lines on a green and yellow background
number theory

Mathematician Measures the Repulsive Force Within Polynomials

By Kevin Hartnett
May 14, 2020
Read Later

Vesselin Dimitrov’s proof of the Schinzel-Zassenhaus conjecture quantifies the way special values of polynomials push each other apart.

Abstractions blog

Math After COVID-19

By Kevin Hartnett
April 28, 2020
Read Later

Modern mathematics relies on collaboration and travel. COVID-19 is making it increasingly difficult.

Black and white photo of John Conway against a black background
Abstractions blog

John Conway Solved Mathematical Problems With His Bare Hands

By Kevin Hartnett
April 20, 2020
Read Later

The legendary mathematician, who died on April 11, was curious, colorful and one of the greatest problem-solvers of his generation.

Animation showing multiple particles of light flowing together and leaving blue trails
Abstractions blog

Graced With Knowledge, Mathematicians Seek to Understand

By Kevin Hartnett
April 8, 2020
Read Later

A landmark proof in computer science has also solved an important problem called the Connes embedding conjecture. Mathematicians are working to understand it.

Photo of two mathematicians drawing on a chalkboard
topology

Mathematics as a Team Sport

By Kevin Hartnett
March 31, 2020
Read Later

When 50 mathematicians spend a week in the woods, there’s no telling what will happen. And that’s the point.

An animation showing a 3-by-3 Latin square, with numbers color coded, and the equivalent graph.
Abstractions blog

‘Rainbows’ Are a Mathematician’s Best Friend

By Kevin Hartnett
March 18, 2020
Read Later

“Rainbow colorings” recently led to a new proof. It’s not the first time they’ve come in handy.

Animation showing toy-like depictions of computer science, quantum mechanics and pure math affecting each other.
computational complexity

Landmark Computer Science Proof Cascades Through Physics and Math

By Kevin Hartnett
March 4, 2020
Read Later

Computer scientists established a new boundary on computationally verifiable knowledge. In doing so, they solved major open problems in quantum mechanics and pure mathematics.


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