Stalking the Riemann Hypothesis: Difference between revisions
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In 1998 the [http://www.msri.org Mathematical Sciences Research Institute] | In 1998 the [http://www.msri.org Mathematical Sciences Research Institute] | ||
in Berkeley, | in Berkeley, California had a three day conference on "Mathematics and the Media". The purpose of this conference was to bring together science writers and mathematicians to discuss ways to better inform the public about mathematics and new discoveries in mathematics. As part of the conference, they asked Peter Sarnak, from Princeton University, to talk about new results in mathematics that he felt the science writers might like to write about. He chose as his topic "The Riemann Hypothesis". This is generally considered the most famous unsolved problem in mathematics and is the major focus of Sarnak's research. | ||
In his talk, Sarnak described some fascinating new connections between the | In his talk, Sarnak described some fascinating new connections between the | ||
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one would meet in calculus and linear algebra. Sarnak's lecture, and a discussion | one would meet in calculus and linear algebra. Sarnak's lecture, and a discussion | ||
of his talk by the science writers, can be found [http://www.msri.org/publications/video/general.html here] | of his talk by the science writers, can be found [http://www.msri.org/publications/video/general.html here] | ||
under "Mathematics for the Media" | under "Mathematics for the Media" . You will see here: | ||
(Note: Dan Rockmore has also provided a very useful commentary on this lecture and its mathematical background in "Chance News". | |||
To be continued | |||
Revision as of 20:30, 20 April 2005
In 1998 the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley, California had a three day conference on "Mathematics and the Media". The purpose of this conference was to bring together science writers and mathematicians to discuss ways to better inform the public about mathematics and new discoveries in mathematics. As part of the conference, they asked Peter Sarnak, from Princeton University, to talk about new results in mathematics that he felt the science writers might like to write about. He chose as his topic "The Riemann Hypothesis". This is generally considered the most famous unsolved problem in mathematics and is the major focus of Sarnak's research.
In his talk, Sarnak described some fascinating new connections between the Riemann Hypothesis, physics and random matrices. He used only mathematics that one would meet in calculus and linear algebra. Sarnak's lecture, and a discussion of his talk by the science writers, can be found here under "Mathematics for the Media" . You will see here:
(Note: Dan Rockmore has also provided a very useful commentary on this lecture and its mathematical background in "Chance News".
To be continued