Snapshots editors' choice: "The Kakeya conjecture"
(September 30, 2026) In this snapshot of modern mathematics from Oberwolfach, Jonathan Hickman gives an introduction to the famous Kakeya conjecture. The snapshot project aims to explain mathematical problems and ideas of present relevance in an accessible and understandable way for everyone who is interested in mathematics.
"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."
Snapshot No. 8/2026: The Kakeya conjecture (PDF)
by Jonathan Hickman
