Snapshots of modern mathematics from Oberwolfach
Snapshots of modern mathematics from Oberwolfach explain mathematical problems and ideas of present relevance in an accessible and understandable way. They provide exciting insights into current topics of the mathematical community for everyone who is interested in modern mathematics, although varying in difficulty.
The snapshots are written by participants of the scientific program at the MFO, who volunteer to explain an important aspect of their research. A team of editors selects the manuscripts that are most suitable for a broad readership and assists the authors in communicating complicated matters to a broad audience. In some cases, the authors are asked to submit their manuscript to a journal for more advanced readers. The MFO publishes the snapshots for free download under a Creative Commons license here and on the IMAGINARY platform.
The snapshot project is designed to promote the understanding and appreciation of modern mathematics and mathematical research in the interested public world-wide. The targeted readership consists of mathematics teachers, science journalists, undergraduate and advanced high school students. If you are interested in writing a snapshot, please contact the organizers of the program in which you are participating. We ask all interested authors to carefully read the guidelines for snapshots, which also provide information on our editorial process and our editorial policy.
ISSN 2626-1995
Editors' choice
No. 8/2026: The Kakeya conjecture (PDF)
by Jonathan Hickman
The geometry of lines is a fundamental part of mathematics and the way we interact with the physical world. Core concepts such as distance and angle, and the accompanying theory of trigonometry, have been studied since antiquity and taught to countless generations of students. However, there are simple questions about lines which have stumped some of the greatest minds in mathematics over the last fifty years. One notable example is the Kakeya conjecture, which asks how lines which point in different directions can be packed together in a small space.
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