Prime numbers, often called the building blocks of whole numbers, are at the heart of modern cryptography.
Renowned mathematician James Maynard shares his insights into how the distribution and properties of prime numbers underpin secure coding systems and why these numbers have fascinated mathematicians for centuries.
From exploring the famous twin prime conjecture to his groundbreaking work on gaps between primes, James reveals how his research has made significant progress on long-standing mathematical problems, culminating in him receiving the Fields Medal in 2022.
James also delves into the power of sieve methods, the flexible techniques he has pioneered to uncover the structure and distribution of primes, before offering valuable advice for budding researchers, emphasising the importance of breaking down complex problems into simpler solvable ones before tackling the bigger picture.
