Realising unstable modules as the cohomology of spaces and mapping spaces (Q1937763)

This is a survey article on the problem of realizing unstable modules over the Steenrod algebra as the cohomology of spaces. Despite its short length it ranges from classical results such as \textit{J. F. Adams}'s solution of the Hopf invariant one problem [Ann. Math. (2) 72, 20--104 (1960; Zbl 0096.17404)], through \textit{L. Schwartz}'s own proof [Invent. Math. 134, No.1, 211--227 (1998); erratum ibid. 182, No. 2, 449--450 (2010; Zbl 0919.55007)] of \textit{N. J. Kuhn}'s conjectures [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 141, No. 2, 321--347 (1995; Zbl 0849.55022)] (with details of recent corrections to that work [\textit{L. Schwartz}, Invent. Math. 182, No. 2, 449--450 (2010; Zbl 1215.55007)], and of an alternative proof by \textit{N. J. Kuhn} himself [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 8, No. 4, 2109--2129 (2008); correction ibid. 10, No. 1, 531--533 (2010; Zbl 1169.55011)]), to the more recent work on the Kervaire invariant problem by \textit{M. A. Hill, M. J. Hopkins} and \textit{D. C. Ravenel} [In: Jerison, David (ed.) et al., Current developments in mathematics, 2010. Somerville, MA: International Press. 1--43 (2011; Zbl 1249.55005)].