2026 Solar Eclipse In Spain: The Math Is Mathing

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I had the good fortune to witness the 2026 Solar Eclipse in Spain.  Instead of appearing high up in the sky as a singular cosmic event, this eclipse showed itself low in the horizon, as if to join and partake in the lights and life of the town of Salou. I felt awestruck... and gratitude.

I also want to thank the astronomers who sent me to the correct space-time coordinates. Predicting the time and place of the total eclipse is a remarkable achievement and a testament to mathematics. Often taken for granted, the Fields Medals and International Mathematical Union (IMU) Awards gives math its due every four years.  I wrote about the 2022 winners here.

The 2026 winners are listed and honored on the Simons Foundation webpage. As a computer programmer I want to highlight the three IMU Awards winners because, to a small degree, I can relate to parts of their work.

Abacus Medal to Shayan Oveis Gharan. His work revolutionized our understanding of Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithms.  For computer scientists, this lays a foundation for finite state machines as well as AI decision making.

Gauss Medal to Yurri Nesterov. His mind was devoted to one question: how do you find a good solution to a problem of optimization? Computer programmers will recognize this drive when optimizing code (sometimes to their detriment), or when pondering the traveling salesman problem (the shortest possible path through many destinations). 

Leelavati Prize to Hannah Fry. With a strong presence on YouTube, she is probably the most well-known of the group.  Apropos to our current challenges, she reminds us that algorithms and data need to be there to support the human decision, not to replace it.

The full playlist of all winners can be found on YouTube. Each six minute video describes their achievements along with a peek at their personal life and a glimpse of what motivates them. And just like you don't need to be a mathematician to enjoy a solar eclipse, you don't need to be a mathematician to appreciate these videos.


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