MATHEMATICS:Packing Challenge Mastered At Last

摘要: Four centuries ago, Johannes Kepler proposed--but did not prove--that the densest possible packing of same-sized spheres is "face-centered cubic" arrangement familiar today to anyone who9s ever admired a pyramid oranges in grocery store. There9s never been much doubt that conjecture true; question has always whether can prove it. Now two mathematicians may finally have met challenge, with proof consisting 250 pages mathematical reasoning and computer programs enumerate check thousands crucial details.