The Four Colour Theorem: The first time machines mogged mathematicians

In 1976, mathematicians Kenneth Appel and Wolfgang Haken used a computer to solve the century-old Four Color Theorem, marking the first major mathematical proof heavily dependent on machine computation rather than traditional human reasoning. The solution sparked fierce controversy within the mathematical community, with many prominent mathematicians rejecting or refusing to accept it as a legitimate proof, arguing that computer verification lacked the intellectual rigor and elegance required for mathematical science. This pioneering use of computers in mathematical proof raised fundamental questions about what constitutes valid mathematical evidence that continue to resonate today.