"The Mathematical Genius Behind String Theory"
Eugenio Calabi, a renowned mathematician, made groundbreaking contributions to geometry, particularly in his 1953 conjecture about a special class of manifolds known as Kähler manifolds. His work on these manifolds, now called Calabi-Yau manifolds, became crucial in both mathematics and physics, particularly in the development of string theory. Calabi's conjecture, initially doubted by others, was eventually proven by mathematician Shing-Tung Yau, leading to the mathematical existence of Calabi-Yau manifolds. These manifolds, with their hidden dimensions, became a key component in string theory, offering a potential explanation for the fundamental particles and forces of nature. Calabi's passion for mathematics persisted throughout his life, and he continued to conduct research well into his 90s.