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For years, the academic community remained unaware of Grisha’s monumental endeavor to solve one of the most challenging mathematical problems in history.
Proving the Unprovable
Grisha’s breakthrough came from building upon previous work by fellow mathematicians such as William Thurston and Richard Hamilton. While Thurston suggested that any 3D shape could be divided into eight geometric structures, Hamilton developed the Ricci flow—a mathematical tool that allowed Grisha to analyze shapes by smoothing out irregularities over time.
By employing Ricci flow, Grisha was able to disassemble complex shapes into simpler components, ultimately proving the Poincaré Conjecture by addressing Thurston's theory. The results of his efforts were compiled in a staggering 992 pages of published papers.