Category Archives: Uncategorized

Various and Sundry

Posted on April 18, 2022 by woit

Last week a review of the Mochizuki IUT papers appeared at Math Reviews, written by Mohamed Saïdi. His discussion of the critical part of the proof is limited to: Theorem 3.11 in Part III is somehow reinterpreted in Corollary 3.12 … Continue reading →

Posted in abc Conjecture, Uncategorized | 24 Comments

The Anti-Science Movement

Posted on April 6, 2022 by woit

I noticed recently that Stony Brook is hosting next week a panel discussion devoted to a conversation about one of the most grave challenges to confront humanity: the anti-science movement. There is a truly grave challenge being referred to, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Fake Physics, Uncategorized | 42 Comments

2022 Abel Prize to Dennis Sullivan

Posted on March 23, 2022 by woit

This year’s Abel Prize has gone to topologist Dennis Sullivan, for the announcement see here, with more information about Sullivan and his work here. There are press stories at Nature, the New York Times, Quanta, and elsewhere. Sullivan was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2022 Abel Prize to Dennis Sullivan

A Few Items

Posted on March 4, 2022 by woit

Some short items and links: Among possible futures that I never would have dreamed of during my student days was that someday my Nobel-prize-winning undergraduate advisor would “try to rile” my Nobel-prize-winning graduate school professor at a Bohr Centennial celebration … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 32 Comments

ICM 2022 and the Invasion of Ukraine

Posted on February 21, 2022 by woit

The news this evening that Russia is sending troops into the Eastern Ukraine and in effect announcing annexation of at least part of the Ukraine carries extremely disturbing implications for the whole world. On a much more minor scale of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 51 Comments

Yet More Math and Physics Items

Posted on January 14, 2022 by woit

Various items that may be of interest: Robbert Dijkgraaf was sworn in a few days ago as Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the Dutch government. Unclear who if anyone is director of the IAS at the moment, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

More Math and Physics Items

Posted on December 18, 2021 by woit

Yet more math items: First of all, congratulations to my colleague Johan de Jong, recipient of the 2022 AMS Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition. Johan’s Stacks Project is very much deserving of such recognition. It’s both huge in scale and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments

Some Math and Physics Items

Posted on December 7, 2021 by woit

First some math news: An anonymous commenter claims here that the 2026 ICM will take place in Philadelphia. I had heard that a US group was submitting a proposal, so this rumor is plausible. Many mathematicians and physicists have signed … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 24 Comments

Lex Fridman Podcast

Posted on December 3, 2021 by woit

A couple months ago I recorded a podcast with Lex Fridman, it’s now available here. A lot of Fridman’s other interviews are well worth watching or listening to, and I thought we had an interesting conversation. I can’t stand listening … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 22 Comments

Unifying Foundations for Physics and Mathematics

Posted on November 28, 2021 by woit

During recent travels I attended two conferences (in Paris and Berkeley) and met up with quite a few people. At the Paris conference I gave an intentionally provocative talk to the philosophers of physics there, slides are here. The argument … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments