Friday, March 26, 2010

Source: ananova.com





World's cleverest man turns down $1m                            


A Russian said to be the world's cleverest man has turned  down a $1 million prize for solving one of mathematics' toughest  puzzles.

Dr Grigory Perelman, 44, who lives as a recluse in a  cockroach-infested flat in St Petersburg, said through the closed door:  "I have all I want."

The prize, the equivalent of £660,000, was given by the US Clay  Mathematics Institute for solving the Poincare Conjecture, reports the  Daily Mail.

Dr Perelman posted his solution on the internet but failed to turn  up to receive his prestigious Fields Medal from the International  Mathematical Union in Madrid four years ago.

At the time he stated: "I'm not interested in money or fame. I  don't want to be on display like an animal in a zoo.

"I'm not a hero of mathematics. I'm not even that successful, that  is why I don't want to have everybody looking at me."

Neighbour Vera Petrovna said: "I was once in his flat and I was  astounded. He only has a table, a stool and a bed with a dirty mattress  which was left by previous owners - alcoholics who sold the flat to him.

"We are trying to get rid of cockroaches in our block, but they  hide in his flat."

The Poincare Conjecture was more than 100 years old when Perelman  solved it - and could help determine the shape of the universe.





Thanks to Little D for finding this article!  Love ya!

1 comments:

Katie said...

Interestingly enough, had you NOT posted the picture, my imagination would have come up with that EXACT guy.