Why does the Russian genius of mathematics refuse $ 1 million?

Grigory Perelman, a Russian mathematician who once turned down a $ 1 million prize, said he knew how to control the universe so he didn't need money.

In March 2010, the Clay Institute of Mathematics (CMI) in the United States announced that it would give a million-dollar bonus to Grigory Perelman, the Russian mathematician, because he proved the Poincaré hypothesis , one of seven problems. The most important mathematical problem in the second millennium has not been elucidated.

But Perelman, now unemployed and living with his mother in a small apartment in the city of St Petersburg , refused to accept the award. The reason he gave is that CMI ignored the efforts of Richard Hamilton, another mathematician, in proving the Poincaré hypothesis. However, a part of public opinion does not believe this is the reason why he rejected the prize.

Mathematician Grigory Perelman. Photo: illumemag.com.

Daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda of Russia said Dr. Perelman had a conversation with a film producer named Alexander Zabrovsky in late April. Because Zabrovsky was about to produce a documentary about the best mathematicians in the world, Perelman agreed to answer his interview questions. In the interview the mathematician mentioned the concept of emptiness. He thinks that emptiness exists everywhere and people can calculate it.

' I and my colleagues found a way to calculate emptiness. We understand mechanisms to fill social and economic gaps , 'he told journalists last week.

Perelman said his research could pave the way for the advent of many great applications in many fields - from nanotechnology to social sciences. It will help humanity understand the nature of the universe. Because the research activity was so interesting, he had no time for other problems.

" I know how to control the universe, so why should I pursue a million dollars? " He said.

The mathematician named " the smartest person in the world" also explained why he did not want to interview the media for a year. Perelman insisted that he stayed away from the media because he did not want to be famous and was also afraid of bad behavior by some journalists.

The Poincaré hypothesis, introduced in 1904 by the eminent mathematician Henri Poincaré, relates to the internal structure of three-dimensional formats. This hypothesis proves to be one of the problems that has hurt world mathematicians for 100 years.

CMI put the Poincaré hypothesis together with six math problems in seven millennia problems and claimed to give a million dollars to the first to solve one of the problems.

Perelman, who worked at the Steklov Mathematical Institute in St. Petersburg, started posting proofs of the 2003 paper. The series of subsequent tests proved he was right.

Four years ago, Perelman was awarded the Fields Medal , the most prestigious award in the field of mathematics, from the International Mathematical Union.

At that time, Perelman said: "I am not interested in money or fame. I do not want to be displayed as an animal in the zoo. I am not a math hero. That's why I don't want people to look at me . " He refused to accept the award and did not attend the ceremony.