The Ricci Flow

The Ricci flow is a process in mathematics that gradually smooths out irregularities in the shape of a geometric surface or space. Imagine it as a way to evenly distribute curvature—areas that are too "curved" get relaxed, similar to how heat spreads to eliminate temperature differences. Mathematicians use Ricci flow to understand the structure of complex shapes, like the universe's geometry, and it played a key role in proving the famous Poincaré Conjecture. Essentially, it’s a mathematical tool for "training" shapes into more uniform, understandable forms.