The Fields Medal is the top prize in all of mathematics and for the second time only the International Mathematical Union awarded it to a woman. Ukrainian mathematician Maryna Viazovska received the Fields Medal for her solution to the “Sphere Packing Problem”.

What is the sphere packing problem? In two dimensions, think about arranging coins on a desk so that the space between them is as small as possible. Or in three-dimensions, stacking oranges or cannon balls. Maryna Viozovska solved it for eight dimensions.

In this episode, we chat with mathematician Marcy Robertson about why this problem is so important, even in a multi-dimensional space like eight dimensions! Plus, why it’s so important that another woman has won the Fields Medal.

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Quanta Magazine story: “In times of scarcity, war and peace, a Ukrainian finds the magic in math”