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Kevin Hartnett

Kevin Hartnett

Contributing Writer

Twitter

Latest Articles

Photo of Marijn Heule walking among computer processors
Abstractions blog

Computer Scientists Attempt to Corner the Collatz Conjecture

By Kevin Hartnett
August 26, 2020
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A powerful technique called SAT solving could work on the notorious Collatz conjecture. But it’s a long shot.

Illustration of floating metal cubes joining together, some of their faces yellow
geometry

Computer Search Settles 90-Year-Old Math Problem

By Kevin Hartnett
August 19, 2020
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By translating Keller’s conjecture into a computer-friendly search for a type of graph, researchers have finally resolved a problem about covering spaces with tiles.

Abstractions blog

How Physics Found a Geometric Structure for Math to Play With

By Kevin Hartnett
July 29, 2020
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Symplectic geometry is a relatively new field with implications for much of modern mathematics. Here’s what it’s all about.

Animated illustration showing vulnerable red shapes become “infected” and turn green, amid immune blue shapes.
Abstractions blog

The Tricky Math of Herd Immunity for COVID-19

By Kevin Hartnett
June 30, 2020
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Herd immunity differs from place to place, and many factors influence how it’s calculated.

Animation of different rectangles made by connecting four points on a colorful loop.
geometry

New Geometric Perspective Cracks Old Problem About Rectangles

By Kevin Hartnett
June 25, 2020
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While locked down due to COVID-19, Joshua Greene and Andrew Lobb figured out how to prove a version of the “rectangular peg problem.”

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

The ‘Useless’ Perspective That Transformed Mathematics

By Kevin Hartnett
June 9, 2020
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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
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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
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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
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Modern mathematics relies on collaboration and travel. COVID-19 is making it increasingly difficult.


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