Many of the biggest math breakthroughs come from people early in their career.

· Bits and Bobs 9/2/25
  • Many of the biggest math breakthroughs come from people early in their career.[bg][bh]
    • One of the things that makes children different and powerful is their imagination.
    • They don't have a prefrontal cortex that's fully formed, they are uninhibited, they can project themselves into a fantasy land more easily.
    • Our prefrontal cortexes aren't fully developed until around the age 26.
    • The prefrontal cortex is the part that curates your beliefs and says "that's dangerous" or "don't bother doing X, it won't work."
    • Before it's fully developed, you are able to play in spaces you don't yet know are supposed to be impossible.
    • Every so often, something in those spaces does turn out to be possible.
    • Children's lack of awareness of the impossible is a feature, not a bug.
    • That's what allows them to form self, adapt to a world their parents can't adapt to.