A Canadian mathematician has been awarded the Abel Prize — often referred to as the Nobel prize of mathematics, for a theory 50 years in the making.

Robert Langlands, 81, who was born in New Westminster, B.C., was awarded the prize for developing what the Abel Prize citation describes as a "grand unified theory of mathematics."

Illustrations by Johnathan Dyck (jonathandyck.com).

The Greatest Mathematician You've Never Heard Of

Robert Langlands’s work may have no practical applications—and he doesn’t mind at all

Before giving his talk, Robert Langlands sent portions of the paper to various mathematicians familiar with his research. Several months later, he hasn’t heard back from anyone who’s been able to understand it in its entirety.

“If he wants more people to pay attention to it,” Arthur says, “why on earth would he write it in Russian?” Some people have theorized that it was targeted at Russian-born mathematician Edward Frenkel, though Langlands insists that’s not the case—he’s always wanted to write something in Russian, he says, and his retirement had finally furnished him with the opportunity to do so.