News Excerpt:

A French mathematician Michel Talagrand, who says maths "gives you wings" has been awarded the Abel Prize - one of the most prestigious honours in the field, for his work in randomness studies.

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• Michel Talagrand, 72, received the award for his "groundbreaking contributions", the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters said.

• His work in probability theory involved understanding random phenomena.

• Mr Talagrand, who is now retired, is the fifth Frenchman to win the prize since it was founded in 2003.
• He immersed himself in his studies after a genetic illness threatened his eyesight as a child and subsequently discovered a talent for mathematics and physics.
• Talagrand is an exceptional mathematician and a formidable problem solver, chair of the Abel Prize committee Helge Holden said.
• He has made profound contributions to our understanding of random, and in particular, Gaussian, processes. 
• His work has reshaped several areas of probability theory.
• The award will be presented by Norway's King Harald V at a ceremony in Oslo on 21 May. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters awards it.