August 22nd, 2006: Grigori Perelman is awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture in mathematics but refuses to accept. (I only know about the Fields Medal from
Good Will Hunting.) But wait, there's more.
The Clay Mathematics Institute, having included the Poincaré conjecture in their well-known Millennium Prize Problem list, offered Perelman their prize of
which he also declined.
Grigori, this jersey is for you. You don't have to accept it. I'm just going to leave it here in case you change your mind.
The reclusive geometer also proved the
Soul conjecture, a metaphysical conundrum about whether there's a point in have a soul. Or at least that's my understanding.
Gotta love this:
A reporter who had called him was told: "You are disturbing me. I am picking mushrooms."
(Image: Soul courtesy Shutterstock. That inchworm is Grigori’s eyebrows. Special guest appearance by
Gerald Lambeau, renowned winner of the Fields Medal and never without the stylish accent of skinny striped scarf.)
Loser of the Lambeau Consolation Prize
