Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidTrap
the Poincaré conjecture states that every simply connected closed three-manifold is homeomorphic to the three-sphere (in a topologist's sense) , where a three-sphere is simply a generalization of the usual sphere to one dimension higher. More colloquially, the conjecture says that the three-sphere is the only type of bounded three-dimensional space possible that contains no holes.
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A straightforward description. Of course one needs to understand the lingo.
Incidentally Poincare's work on Special Relativity predated Einstein's work.
"Poincaré's work in the development of special relativity is well recognised, though most historians stress that despite many similarities with Einstein's work, the two had very different research agendas and interpretations of the work.Poincaré developed a similar physical interpretation of local time and noticed the connection to signal velocity, but contrary to Einstein he continued to use the ether-concept in his papers and argued that clocks in the ether show the "true" time, and moving clocks show the local time. So Poincaré tried to bring the relativity principle in accordance with classical physics, while Einstein developed a mathematically equivalent kinematics based on the new physical concepts of the relativity of space and time. While this is the view of most historians, a minority go much further, such as
E.T. Whittaker, who held that Poincaré and Lorentz were the true discoverers of Relativity."
Regards
Steven
show me the money 
