Prime numbers are the building blocks of math—but their patterns remain one of the biggest unsolved mysteries. That’s where James Maynard comes in.From finding hidden structures in prime gaps to proving that some primes never contain a specific digit, Maynard has transformed our understanding of numbers. His work has massive implications, from strengthening cybersecurity to shaping the future of quantum computing.
This episode dives into the mind of a Fields Medalist who isn’t just solving old problems—he’s redefining the field. His discoveries are unlocking new ways to see randomness, patterns, and the very fabric of mathematics itself.
Numbers are everywhere, and thanks to Maynard, we’re finally beginning to understand them. Get ready for a deep dive into one of math’s greatest unsolved mysteries—the secret life of primes.

At first glance, it’s just a 2×2 grid. Four exponential numbers. No flashing lights, no smoke and mirrors. But hidden in that tiny setup is a mathematical riddle that’s resisted solution for nearly a century.
In this episode, we explore the Four Exponentials Conjecture, a quiet giant in the world of number theory. The idea is simple: if you pick two rationally independent numbers for your rows and two for your columns, and build exponentials from the combinations, at least one result must be transcendental—guaranteed.
That might sound like splitting hairs, but the implications are enormous. Proving this conjecture could unlock the deeper mysteries of exponential behavior, help us understand how "wild" numbers emerge, and even nudge open the gates to solving Schanuel’s Conjecture—one of math’s biggest unsolved problems.
We trace its origins from the 1940s to today’s cutting-edge attempts. You’ll hear how this compact problem bridges algebra, transcendence, and mathematical philosophy. Why can’t we trap all four numbers in the algebraic world? Why does this matter?
Because sometimes, proving one number is “weird enough” is all it takes to rewrite the rules.

June Huh wasn’t a math prodigy. He was a high school dropout who wanted to be a poet. But instead of writing verses, he found beauty in numbers—and ended up solving some of the hardest math problems in history. Huh cracked a 50-year-old puzzle in combinatorics, the math of patterns, arrangements, and hidden structures. His discoveries connect math to everything from AI to internet search engines, changing how we optimize systems and process information.
This episode explores how an outsider rewrote the rules of mathematics, proving that you don’t have to be a child genius to change the world. If you’ve ever struggled with math, this story might just make you see it in a whole new way.