The number of directions determined by points in the three-dimensional Euclidean space (Q1864111)

Let \(X\subset\mathbb R^3\) be a set of \(n\) points in general position. An old conjecture states that pairs of points in \(X\) determine at least \(2n-3\) directions. The authors prove the following weaker results: if there is a direction determined by \(X\) of multiplicity \(k\), then \(X\) determines at least \(2n-2-k\) directions; \(X\) determines a direction with multiplicity at most \(n/4\); \(X\) determines at least \(1.75n-2\) directions. The authors advance three more conjectures and argue them.