# 17-year-old refutes math conjecture, enters PhD program without a degree

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-year-old-refutes-math-conjecture-enters-phd-program-without-a-degree/1021655>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Tags:** science-math\
**Created:** [August 3, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-year-old-refutes-math-conjecture-enters-phd-program-without-a-degree/1021655 "2025-08-03T13:07:46Z")\
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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/17-year-old-refutes-math-conjecture-enters-phd-program-without-a-degree/1021655/120 "2025-08-05T18:56:35Z")

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> [@Dr.Strangelove](#):
>
> But there _is_ evidence that people really like to believe in some kind of “conservation of talent” principle, such that if a person is skilled in one area they must be deficient in another.

If you watch Sabine Hossenfelder’s videos, there is also “expert in one thing = expert in everything”

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