Ellipsoids are the most symmetric convex bodies (Q1818253)

The paper contains the following characterization of ellipsoids. Let \(C\) be a convex body in \({\mathbb E}^d\) (\(d \geq 3\)) whose boundary is a surface of class \({\mathcal C}^4\) with positive Gauss curvature. If \(C\) `looks centrally symmetric' from all exterior points \(p\) of \(C\) which are sufficiently close to \(C\), then \(C\) is an ellipsoid. This result is a contribution to proving the following conjecture of the first author [\textit{G. Bianchi} and \textit{P. M. Gruber}, Arch. Math. 49, 344-350 (1987; Zbl 0595.52004)]: Let a convex body \(C\) in \({\mathbb E}^d\) (\(d \geq 3\)) be contained in the interior of a continuous surface S homeomorphic to the unit sphere. If C `looks centrally symmetric' from each point of \(S\), then \(C\) is an ellipsoid.