What Does the Fourth Dimension Actually Look Like?
Oct 1, 2026
The Joy of Why
What Makes for ‘Good’ Mathematics?
Mathematics podcast with Terence Tao
The Joy of Why, Hosted by Steven Strogatz
About
Terence Tao and Steven Strogatz revisit Tao’s essay on what makes mathematical research valuable. Their conversation examines proof, elegance, usefulness, problem solving, and connections between fields, showing why no single criterion captures all worthwhile mathematics. They also consider how mathematical communities develop judgment and how technological tools affect research.
Topics
More from this series
- How Do Mathematicians Know Their Proofs Are Correct?Jul 13, 2022 · 28 min
- Live from ICM 2026: What Is Math For in the Age of AI?Sep 3, 2026 · 53 min
- Can Computers Be Mathematicians?Jun 29, 2022 · 33 min
- Is There Math Beyond the Equal Sign?Mar 22, 2023 · 50 min
- Untangling Why Knots Are ImportantApr 6, 2022 · 44 min
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