Maryna Viazovska

For centuries, mathematicians searched for the most efficient way to arrange identical spheres. The problem becomes extraordinarily difficult in higher dimensions, where intuition and physical models no longer help. Maryna Viazovska discovered the missing mathematical function needed to prove that the highly symmetrical E8 lattice is the densest possible arrangement in eight dimensions. Her 23-page proof was announced in March 2016, and within a week the method was extended with collaborators to the 24-dimensional Leech lattice.

This documentary reveals how a problem that resisted generations of mathematicians was defeated through an unexpected connection between geometry, Fourier analysis and modular forms. It is a story about mathematical intuition, elegant proofs and how seemingly abstract research can influence information theory, error-correcting codes and communications.