Month: January 2004

Henri Poincaré v Gisha Perelman

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There was an fascinating and amazing article buried in section A of today’s Chron. (Of course, I may be in a small minority thinking so.)

It’s thought that someone has solved the Poincaré Conjecture. It’s one of the seven Millennium Problems that each have a bounty of a million dollars on them. This problem was first posited 99 years ago. It would be huge to solve it!

“It is by logic we prove, it is by intuition that we invent.” – Henri Poincaré, 1904

Jan. 8, 2004, 12:24AM

Russian’s math may take prize

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — A publicity-shy Russian researcher who labors in near-seclusion may have solved one of mathematics’ oldest and most abstruse problems, the Poincare Conjecture.

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It’s Out There

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I tend to hop around and use a different computer at work each day. One of the previous computers that I’ve used was being used today by another guy, Jason. He knows Mark from the Fear and Loathing installment a few weeks ago. He discovered the journal. So now, a good number of people in … Read more

Chron + Science = humor

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Today’s front page story on Spirit arriving at Mars provide for a welcome afternoon chuckle.

After an entirely correct, and likely regurgitated explaination of the mission:

“Spirit is one of two $410 million U.S. robotic spacecraft on the way, equipped with cameras and instruments to search for evidence that cold, arid Mars may once have been wet and warm enough for some form of life.”

Emphasis mine.

Then later on in the article they discuss plunging through the thin atmosphere and ludicrously add:

“Spirit still will be moving at 1,000 mph, leaving a long contrail in its wake.”

For those unfamiliar with the atmospheric physics, a contrail (a condensation trail) is caused by airplanes (or anything else hurling through the atmosphere) causing high pressure on their leading edge which causes evaporated water vapor to be forced to condensate into tiny liquid water molecules, also well known for making clouds.

Apparently Mark Carreau didn’t get that far in high school science.

Cached article:

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2 strikes

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rail day 1: shut down entirely too early, strands us in Hermann Park rail day 2: the mythical 9am – 10pm, ends at 9pm, strands me at the Continental hopefully they’ll figure out how to schedule some day soon, -bill