Whipped Cream Difficulties

Dr. Kenneth I. Appel, noted mathematician.

Dr. Appel is famous, along with Dr. Wolfgang Haken, for their 1976 proof of the four-color map theorem. Their proof was significant for two reasons:

1. The four color theorem was a major unsolved problem in mathematics.
2. The Appel/Haken proof was the first major mathematical proof that used computers in the process.

The Appel/Haken proof was rather controversial at the time:

In a visit to one university, Dr. Appel and Dr. Haken said, professors barred them from meeting graduate students lest the students’ minds become contaminated.

I would have been 11 at the time, and I remember this being a big deal. I even remember trying to read the Scientific American article about the four color proof, and it being more than a little above my head. I’d love to go back and read that article now, but (of course) it doesn’t seem to be available online unless you’re willing to cough up money to Nature.

(When did Nature acquire the Scientific American archives? Did I miss that?)

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