Content about math

An Old Abstract Field of Math Is Unlocking the Deep Complexity of Spacecraft Orbits (wired.com)

In 2021, Koh came across a paper that discussed how to grapple with chaotic orbits from the perspective of symplectic geometry, an abstract field of math that is generally far removed from messy real-world details. She started to suspect that symplectic geometry might have the tools she needed to better understand orbits, and she got in touch with Agustin Moreno, the author of the paper. Moreno, then a postdoctoral fellow at Uppsala University in Sweden, was surprised and pleased to hear that someone at NASA was interested in his work. “It was unexpected, but it was also quite interesting and sort of motivating at the same time,” he said.

This is the beauty of pure academic research – someone makes an unforeseen connection and our collective knowledge grows. You never know how people will apply your work later. Pretty neat and compelling example of the value of basic research.

tags: research math science space

posted by matt in Sunday, May 5, 2024

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All moved in! This was probably the easiest move yet. Jonathan has thinned his belongings a bit, and we're getting a little better at the process. Easy parking helped, too. All in all, the process was smooth and easy. He's ready to start his senior year.

He simplified the chalkboard this year, too, which really simplified things. We left the old one at home and bought four chalkboard panels at Home Depot. A few heavy duty command strips on the backside appear to hold everything just fine. He's going to let this first one sit for a few days to make sure, then will hang the others. He even tested the first one out right after hanging it, writing out the equation he worked to prove in his research over the summer.

One load for the apartment stuff, btw. We've got Renee's new Tesla Model Y, which is surprisingly spacious.

tags: harvard dorm math

photo posted by matt in Saturday, September 2, 2023

A ‘Monumental’ Math Proof Solves the Triple Bubble Problem (wired.com)

No one expects further progress to come easily; but that has never deterred Milman and Neeman. “From my experience,” Milman said, “all of the major things that I was fortunate enough to be able to do required just not giving up.”

The problem here is fascinating, and I can grasp that. I can't grasp the math of the solution, but I know somebody who can and I look forward to talking to him about it.

I love the closing paragraph quoted above. True in math, true in everything. Don't give up. Ever.

tags: academia math

posted by matt in Sunday, May 7, 2023

AI has cracked a key mathematical puzzle for understanding our world (technologyreview.com)

I don't fully understand the math involved, but I appreciate the significance of the advance made here. And the potential practical applications are interesting - the author sees a role for it in weather predictions...and climate change

tags: math ai weather climatchange

posted by matt in Thursday, November 5, 2020