Mathematics Colloquia and Seminars

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The moduli space $M_{0,n}$ (the set of equivalence classes of n-tuples of distinct points on the projective line under simultaneous linear fractional transformations) has a natural compactification to a smooth projective scheme ${\bar M}_{0,n}$. Since this scheme is defined over $\Z$, its real locus is a smooth (in general nonorientable) manifold. The rational cohomology algebra of this manifold has a number of interesting properties, most notably the fact that its Poincare polynomial factors completely (in sharp contrast to the corresponding complex manifold). I'll discuss recent work with Etingof, Henriques, and Kamnitzer deriving this Poincare polynomial, as well as an explicit presentation and basis of the cohomology algebra.