> independently discover a Zeno's paradox at age 3
> MIT at 17, grad level math in 1st year
> graduate in 3 years
> drive motor scooters from Boston to Bogotรก with the boys
> start a company in Colombia
> start code breaking with the IDA for money
> solve minimal varieties in riemannian manifolds
> speak out against Vietnam War, get fired from IDA
> take over math dept. at Stonybrook, make it a top-ranked program globally
> develop Churn-Simons theory, accidentally contribute more to physics than most physicists
> get bored with math, start modeling financial markets
> return 60% for 4 decades straight
> establish one of the most effective philanthropic organizations of all time
> chain smoke cigarettes the entire time
RIP Jim ๐ซก
Read a great Reddit thread putting historical dates in perspective.
Here are 8 gems.
1/ The moon landing was only 66 years after the Wright Brothers first flight (1903-1969). Within a lifetime, humans went from having limited flight tech to travelling ~239k miles from Earth.
Congrats to Magnus Carlsen for winning the longest game in chess world championship history. First 5 games ended in a draw. Game 6 was the first win, after 136 moves. Incredible.