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Can the Most Abstract Math Make the World a Better Place? (Quanta)

by Brendan Fong
published on the 18th of March, 2026

Abstract

Topos was recently mentioned in a post in Quanta about applications of category theory. Click through for a link to the full article.

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Can the Most Abstract Math Make the World a Better Place?
Columnist Natalie Wolchover explores whether applied category theory can be "green" math.

Like these mathematicians, I yearn to make the world a better place while doing what I love. (Don't we all?) Philosophically, I see the promise in applied category theory. Time will tell whether the approach will genuinely help humanity or the planet. But for those who feel called to do good and to do math, it's worth a try.

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