Von Neumann & the Digital Age
The polymath who shaped the modern world through mathematics
22.1 John von Neumann
John von Neumann (1903–1957) made contributions spanning set theory, functional analysis, quantum mechanics, game theory, economics, and computer architecture. The von Neumann architecture — the stored-program concept — remains the basis of virtually all modern computers.
22.2 Babbage & Lovelace
Charles Babbage (1791–1871) designed the Analytical Engine, and Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) wrote what is often considered the first computer program — an algorithm for computing Bernoulli numbers.
22.3 Mathematics Today
Major unsolved problems — the Riemann hypothesis, P vs NP, Navier-Stokes — drive research forward. Computer-assisted proofs and machine learning are changing how mathematics is done, yet the essential human activity of mathematical creation remains as vital as ever.