Mathematics evolves in the quest to solve some great problems, such as Fermat's Last Theorem or the Poincaré Conjecture. One such significant problem was the search for the Symmetry Beast of a gigantic snowflake in 196,884 dimensions!

Through an excitingly swift narrative spanning two centuries, Mark Ronan recounts how scientists were able to understand symmetry. This adventure essentially began in the 19th century with the brilliant young Évariste Galois, who tragically lost his life in a duel at only 20 years old. On the night before his death, he feverishly recorded his unpublished discoveries, used symmetry to understand algebraic equations, and concluded that there are fundamental building blocks or "atoms of symmetry." Most of these blocks fit into a table similar to the periodic table of chemical elements. However, mathematicians have identified 26 exceptions.

The greatest exception is called the "Beast" or the "Terror." Mark Ronan, who personally knew the scientists working on this problem, reveals that initially the Beast only appeared faintly. But as more mathematicians studied it, the picture became clearer. Ultimately, it turned out to be something magnificent—something that hints at deeper connections between symmetry, string theory, and the very fabric and structure of the universe.