Welcome to Quantum Magazine's podcast.

Each episode we bring you stories about developments in science and mathematics.

I'm Susan Vallett.

What's known as Hilbert's 13th problem was at one time predicted to shape the future of the math field,

and it was long considered

solved.

But was it really?

That's next.

While you're listening to podcasts, remember to check out the other Quantum Magazine podcast,

The Joy of X.

Host Stephen Stroggatz interviews top-tier scientists and mathematicians.

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It helps people find the Quantum Magazine podcast.

Success is rare in math. Just ask Benson Farb, a topologist at the University of Chicago,

who recalls a conversation from a party. When someone was talking to me, I said, well, in mathematics,

the hard part is you're failing 90% of the time. So you have to be that kind of person

to be able to fail 90% of the time. And another mathematician was standing next to me and said,

oh my God, you succeed 10% of the time. You're amazing. And then I said, no, I was exaggerating.

I was greatly exaggerating my success rate there.

Farb couldn't be happier about his latest failure.

Though, to be fair, it isn't his alone.

...