\(\overline{M}_{0,n}\) is not a Mori dream space (Q2354144)

Let \(k\) be an algebraically closed field of characteristic \(0\). A small \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial modification of a normal projective variety \(X\) over \(k\) is a birational map which is isomorphic in codimension 1 \(X\dashrightarrow Y \) to another normal \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial projective variety \(Y\). \(X\) is a Mori Dream Space (MDS) if three conditions hold: (1) \(X\) is \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial and Pic\((X)_{\mathbb{Q}}\cong N^1(X)_{\mathbb{Q}}\); (2) Nef\((X)\) is generated by finitely many semiample line bundles; (3) there is a finite collection of SQMs \(f_i: X \dashrightarrow X_i\) such that each \(X_i\) satisfies (1) and (2), and Mov\((X)\) is the union of of \(f^*_i(\text{Nef}(X_i))\). Let Bl\(_eZ\) be the blowup of \(Z\) at the identity element of the toric variety \(Z\). The Losev-Manin space \(\overline{LM}_n\) is a smooth projective toric variety of dimension \(n-3\). The authors prove the following theorem. Theorem 1.1. There exists a small \(\mathbb{Q}\)-factorial projective modification \(\widetilde{LM}_{n+1}\) of \(\mathrm{Bl}_e\overline{LM}_ {n+1}\) and surjective morphisms \[ \widetilde{LM}_{n+1}\rightarrow \overline{M}_{0, n} \rightarrow \mathrm{Bl}_e\overline{LM}_{n}. \] In particular, if \(\overline{M}_{0, n}\) is an MDS, then \(\mathrm{Bl}_e\overline{LM}_n\) is an MDS and if \(\mathrm{Bl}_e\overline{LM}_{n+1}\) is an MDS, then \(\bar{M}_{0, n}\) is an MDS. The following theorem is due to Goto, Nishida and Watanabe [\textit{S. Goto} et al., Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 120, No. 2, 383--392 (1994; Zbl 0796.13005)]. Theorem 1.2. If \((a, b, c)=(7m-3, 5m^2-2m, 8m-3)\) with \(m\geq 4\) and \(3\nmid m\), then Bl\(_e{\mathbb{P}(a, b. c)}\) is not an MDS. The authors used a different approach to the work of Goto, Nishida and Watanabe then prove the following. Theorem 1.3. Let \(n=a+b+c+8\), where \(a, b, c\) are positive coprime integers. If \(\mathrm{Bl}_e\overline{LM}_n\) is an MDS, then \(\mathrm{Bl}_e{\mathbb{P}}(a, b, c)\) is an MDS. Combining the above results, the authors reach the conclusion (the main result of this paper) that the moduli space of stable rational curves with \(n\) punctures is not a Mori dream space for \(n>133\). This answers a question posed by \textit{Y. Hu} and \textit{S. Keel} [Mich. Math. J. 48, 331--348 (2000; Zbl 1077.14554)].