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We take a first step towards the classification of singular Mori dream $K3$ surfaces. We prove that if the Picard lattice of a singular $K3$ surface is Mori dream, then the surface is Mori dream. Moreover, we show that for singular $K3$ surfaces, of Picard rank two, being Mori dream is equivalent to contain two negative curves intersecting each other, and apply this result to study Mori dreamness of $K3$ surfaces with a singular point of type $A_n$., Comment: 15 pages

Let $\mathcal{F}_{8,2\times \frac{1}{2}(1,1,1)}$ be the moduli space of genus $8$ Fano $3$-folds with two singular points of type $\frac{1}{2}(1,1,1)$. We show that $\mathcal{F}_{8,2\times \frac{1}{2}(1,1,1)}$ is a rational variety., Comment: 11 pages

We show that even dimensional Fermat cubic hypersurfaces are rational over any field of characteristic different from three by producing explicit rational parametrizations given by polynomials of low degree. As a byproduct of our rationality constructions we get estimates on the number of their rational points over a number field, and a class of quadro-cubic Cremona correspondences of even dimensional projective spaces., Comment: 26 pages

Let $X^{1,n}_r$ be the blow-up of $\mathbb{P}^1\times\mathbb{P}^n$ in $r$ general points. We describe the Mori cone of $X^{1,n}_r$ for $r\leq n+2$ and for $r = n+3$ when $n\leq 4$. Furthermore, we prove that $X^{1,n}_{n+1}$ is log Fano and give an explicit presentation for its Cox ring., Comment: 12 pages

We develop a framework that allows one to describe the birational geometry of Calabi-Yau pairs $(X,D)$. After establishing some general results for Calabi-Yau pairs $(X,D)$ with mild singularities, we focus on the special case when $X=\mathbb{P}^3$ and $D\subset \mathbb{P}^3$ is a quartic surface. We investigate how the appearance of increasingly worse singularities on $D$ enriches the birational geometry of the pair $(\mathbb{P}^3, D)$., Comment: This is a major revision containing a revised Section 4.2, adding detail to several proofs, and correcting several mistakes and many typos. We thank a careful anonymous referee for making many suggestions for improvement, on which this revision is based

We introduce the notion of ample body of a projective variety and use it to prove emptiness results for Terracini loci and specific identifiability results for toric and homogeneous varieties., Comment: 11 pages

Let $X_4\subset\mathbb{P}^{n+1}$ be a quartic hypersurface of dimension $n\geq 4$ over an infinite field $k$. We show that if either $X_4$ contains a linear subspace $\Lambda$ of dimension $h\geq \max\{2,\dim(\Lambda\cap \text{Sing}(X_4))-2\}$ or has double points along a linear subspace of dimension $h\geq 3$, a smooth $k$-rational point and is otherwise general, then $X_4$ is unirational over $k$. This improves previous results by A. Predonzan and J. Harris, B. Mazur, R. Pandharipande for quartics. We also provide a density result for the $k$-rational points of quartic $3$-folds with a double plane over a number field, and several unirationality results for quintic hypersurfaces over a $C_r$ field., Comment: 16 pages

Let $X\subset\mathbb{P}^{hn+h-1}$ be an irreducible and non-degenerate variety of dimension $n$. The Bronowski's conjecture predicts that $X$ is $h$-identifiable if and only if the general $(h-1)$-tangential projection $\tau_{h-1}^X:X\dashrightarrow\mathbb{P}^n$ is birational. In this paper we provide counterexamples to this conjecture. Building on the ideas that led to the counterexamples we manage to prove an amended version of the Bronowski's conjecture for a wide class of varieties and to reduce the identifiability problem for projective varieties to their secant defectiveness., Comment: 21 pages. To appear in Duke Mathematical Journal

We prove that a general $n$-fold quadric bundle $\mathcal{Q}^{n-1}\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{1}$, over a number field, with $(-K_{\mathcal{Q}^{n-1}})^n > 0$ and discriminant of odd degree $\delta_{\mathcal{Q}^{n-1}}$ is unirational, and that the same holds for quadric bundles over an arbitrary infinite field provided that $\mathcal{Q}^{n-1}$ has a point, is otherwise general and $n\leq 5$. As a consequence we get the unirationality of a general $n$-fold quadric bundle $\mathcal{Q}^{h}\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{n-h}$ with discriminant of odd degree $\delta_{\mathcal{Q}^{h}}\leq 3h+4$, and of any smooth $4$-fold quadric bundle $\mathcal{Q}^{2}\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{2}$, over an algebraically closed field, with $\delta_{\mathcal{Q}^{2}}\leq 12$., Comment: 13 pages

We construct wonderful compactifications of the spaces of linear maps, and symmetric linear maps of a given rank as blow-ups of secant varieties of Segre and Veronese varieties. Furthermore, we investigate their birational geometry and their relations with some spaces of degree two stable maps., Comment: 23 pages. Exposition improved and proof of Proposition 4.1 simplified thanks to the comments of the referee. Added a section on the positivity of the anti-canonical divisor of the compactifications. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2012.13999

Let $\pi:Z\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ be a general minimal $n$-fold conic bundle with a hypersurface $B_Z\subset\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ of degree $d$ as discriminant. We prove that if $d\geq 4n+1$ then $-K_Z$ is not pseudo-effective, and that if $d = 4n$ then none of the integral multiples of $-K_{Z}$ is effective. Finally, we provide examples of smooth unirational $n$-fold conic bundles $\pi:Z\rightarrow\mathbb{P}^{n-1}$ with discriminant of arbitrarily high degree., Comment: 13 pages. We thank the referee for pointing out a mistake in a statement, about a birational version of Theorem 1.1 for 3-folds, that we removed. To appear in Mathematische Nachrichten

We give algorithms to compute decompositions of a given polynomial, or more generally mixed tensor, as sum of rank one tensors, and to establish whether such a decomposition is unique. In particular, we present methods to compute the decomposition of a general plane quintic in seven powers, and of a general space cubic in five powers; the two decompositions of a general plane sextic of rank nine, and the five decompositions of a general plane septic. Furthermore, we give Magma implementations of all our algorithms., Comment: 19 pages

A wonderful compactification of an orbit under the action of a semi-simple and simply connected group is a smooth projective variety containing the orbit as a dense open subset, and where the added boundary divisor is simple normal crossing. We construct the wonderful compactification of the space of symmetric and symplectic matrices, and investigate its geometry. As an application, we describe the birational geometry of the Kontsevich spaces parametrizing conics in Lagrangian Grassmannians., Comment: 29 pages. The exposition has been improved and a mistake about the sphericity of $\overline{M}_{0,0}(LG(r,2r),2)$ for $r > 2$ has been corrected thanks to the referee's comments

This is an expository article written for the Notices of the AMS in which we discuss the weak Lefschetz Principle in birational geometry. Our departing point is the influential work of Solomon Lefschetz started in 1924. Indeed, we look at the original formulation of the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem in algebraic topology and build up to recent developments of it in birational geometry. In doing so, the main theme of the article is the following: there are many scenarios in geometry in which analogous versions of the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem hold. These scenarios are somewhat unexpected and have had a profound impact in mathematics., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figues. To appear in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society

We give an almost asymptotically sharp bound for the non secant defectiveness and identifiability of Segre-Veronese varieties. We also provide new examples of defective Segre-Veronese varieties., Comment: 22 pages

A point $p\in\mathbb{P}^N$ of a projective space is $h$-identifiable, with respect to a variety $X\subset\mathbb{P}^N$, if it can be written as linear combination of $h$ elements of $X$ in a unique way. Identifiability is implied by conditions on the contact locus in $X$ of general linear spaces called non weak defectiveness and non tangential weak defectiveness. We give conditions ensuring non tangential weak defectiveness of an irreducible and non-degenerated projective variety $X\subset\mathbb{P}^N$, and we apply these results to Segre-Veronese varieties., Comment: 17 pages

We investigate the secant dimensions and the identifiablity of flag varieties parametrizing flag of sub vector spaces of a fixed vector space. We give numerical conditions ensuring that secant varieties of flag varieties have the expected dimension, and that a general point on these secant varieties is identifiable.

Fix $n\geq 5$ general points $p_1, \dots, p_n\in\mathbb{P}^1$, and a weight vector $\mathcal{A} = (a_{1}, \dots, a_{n})$ of real numbers $0 \leq a_{i} \leq 1$. Consider the moduli space $\mathcal{M}_{\mathcal{A}}$ parametrizing rank two parabolic vector bundles with trivial determinant on $\big(\mathbb{P}^1, p_1,\dots , p_n\big)$ which are semistable with respect to $\mathcal{A}$. Under some conditions on the weights, we determine and give a modular interpretation for the automorphism group of the moduli space $\mathcal{M}_{\mathcal{A}}$. It is isomorphic to $\left(\frac{\mathbb{Z}}{2\mathbb{Z}}\right)^{k}$ for some $k\in \{0,\dots, n-1\}$, and is generated by admissible elementary transformations of parabolic vector bundles. The largest of these automorphism groups, with $k=n-1$, occurs for the central weight $\mathcal{A}_{F}= \left(\frac{1}{2},\dots,\frac{1}{2}\right)$. The corresponding moduli space ${\mathcal M}_{\mathcal{A}_F}$ is a Fano variety of dimension $n-3$, which is smooth if $n$ is odd, and has isolated singularities if $n$ is even., Comment: 13 pages

We study the projective behavior, mainly with respect to osculating spaces and secant varieties, of Lagrangian Grassmannians and Spinor varieties. We prove that these varieties have osculating dimension smaller than expected. Furthermore, we give numerical conditions ensuring the non secant defectivity of Lagrangian Grassmannians in their Pl\"ucker embedding and of Spinor varieties in both their Pl\"ucker and Spinor embeddings., Comment: 20 pages

Inspired by the Weak Lefschetz Principle, we study when a smooth projective variety fully determines the birational geometry of some of its subvarieties. In particular, we consider the natural embedding of the space of complete quadrics into the space of complete collineations and we observe that their birational geometry, from the point of view of Mori theory, fully determines each other. When two varieties are related in this way, we call them birational twins. We explore this notion and its various flavors for other embeddings between Mori dream spaces., Comment: 15 page. To appear in the volume dedicated to the BGMS Conference 2018 of the Springer Indam Series

Comon's conjecture on the equality of the rank and the symmetric rank of a symmetric tensor, and Strassen's conjecture on the additivity of the rank of tensors are two of the most challenging and guiding problems in the area of tensor decomposition. We survey the main known results on these conjectures, and, under suitable bounds on the rank, we prove them, building on classical techniques used in the case of symmetric tensors, for mixed tensors. Finally, we improve the bound for Comon's conjecture given by flattenings by producing new equations for secant varieties of Veronese and Segre varieties., Comment: 12 pages

The effective cone of a Mori dream space admits two wall-and-chamber decompositions called Mori chamber and stable base locus decompositions. In general the former is a non trivial refinement of the latter. We investigate, from both the geometrical and the combinatorial viewpoints, the differences between these decompositions. Furthermore, we provide a criterion to establish whether the two decompositions coincide for a Mori dream space of Picard rank two, and we construct an explicit example of a Mori dream space of Picard rank two for which the decompositions are different, showing that our criterion is sharp. Finally, we classify the smooth toric 3-folds of Picard rank three for which the two decompositions are different., Comment: 26 pages. Added the classification of smooth toric 3-folds of Picard rank three for which the Mori chamber and the stable base locus decomposition differ. To appear in Transactions of the American Mathematical Society

Moduli spaces of complete collineations are wonderful compactifications of spaces of linear maps of maximal rank between two fixed vector spaces. We investigate the birational geometry of moduli spaces of complete collineations and quadrics from the point of view of Mori theory. We compute their effective, nef and movable cones, the generators of their Cox rings, and their groups of pseudo-automorphisms. Furthermore, we give a complete description of both the Mori chamber and stable base locus decompositions of the effective cone of the space of complete collineations of the 3-dimensional projective space., Comment: 38 pages

Moduli spaces of complete skew-forms are compactifications of spaces of skew-symmetric linear maps of maximal rank on a fixed vector space, where the added boundary divisor is simple normal crossing. In this paper we compute their effective, nef and movable cones, the generators of their Cox rings, and for those spaces having Picard rank two we give an explicit presentation of the Cox ring. Furthermore, we give a complete description of both the Mori chamber and stable base locus decompositions of the effective cone of some spaces of complete skew-forms having Picard rank at most four., Comment: 16 pages

In this paper we classify weak Fano varieties that can be obtained by blowing-up general points in prime Fano varieties. We also classify spherical blow-ups of Grassmannians in general points, and we compute their effective cone. These blow-ups are, in particular, Mori dream spaces. Furthermore, we compute the stable base locus decomposition of the blow-up of a Grassmannian in one point, and we show how it is determined by linear systems of hyperplanes containing the osculating spaces of the Grassmannian at the blown-up point, and by the rational normal curves in the Grassmannian passing through the blown-up point., Comment: 23 pages. Exposition improved and corrected a statement on the stable base locus decomposition in Theorem 1.3 thanks to the comments of the referee

We study the geometry of some varieties of sums of powers related to the Klein quartic. This allows us to describe the birational geometry of certain moduli spaces of abelian surfaces. In particular we show that the moduli space $\mathcal{A}_2(1,7)^{-}_{sym}$ of $(1,7)$-polarized abelian surfaces with a symmetric theta structure and an odd theta characteristic is unirational by showing that it admits a dominant morphism from a unirational conic bundle., Comment: 14 pages

A tensor $T$, in a given tensor space, is said to be $h$-identifiable if it admits a unique decomposition as a sum of $h$ rank one tensors. A criterion for $h$-identifiability is called effective if it is satisfied in a dense, open subset of the set of rank $h$ tensors. In this paper we give effective $h$-identifiability criteria for a large class of tensors. We then improve these criteria for some symmetric tensors. For instance, this allows us to give a complete set of effective identifiability criteria for ternary quintic polynomial. Finally, we implement our identifiability algorithms in Macaulay2., Comment: 12 pages. The identifiability criteria are implemented, in Macaulay2, in the ancillary file Identifiability.m2

In this paper we investigate codimension one Fano distributions on Fano manifolds with Picard number one. We classify Fano distributions of maximal index on complete intersections in weighted projective spaces, Fano contact manifolds, Grassmannians of lines and their linear sections, and describe their moduli spaces. As a consequence, we obtain a classification of codimension one del Pezzo distributions on Fano manifolds with Picard number one., Comment: 23 pages

In this paper we study the geometry of GIT configurations of $n$ ordered points on $\mathbb{P}^1$ both from the the birational and the biregular viewpoint. In particular, we prove that any extremal ray of the Mori cone of effective curves of the quotient $(\mathbb{P}^1)^n//PGL(2)$, taken with the symmetric polarization, is generated by a one dimensional boundary stratum of the moduli space. Furthermore, we develop some technical machinery that we use to compute the canonical divisor and the Hilbert polynomial of $(\mathbb{P}^1)^n//PGL(2)$ in its natural embedding, and its group of automorphisms., Comment: 22 pages (fixed one small inaccuracy)

Let $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A[n]}$ be the Hassett moduli stack of weighted stable curves, and let $\overline{M}_{g,A[n]}$ be its coarse moduli space. These are compactifications of $\mathcal{M}_{g,n}$ and $M_{g,n}$ respectively, obtained by assigning rational weights $A = (a_{1},...,a_{n})$, $0< a_{i} \leq 1$ to the markings; they are defined over $\mathbb{Z}$, and therefore over any field. We study the first order infinitesimal deformations of $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A[n]}$ and $\overline{M}_{g,A[n]}$. In particular, we show that $\overline{M}_{0,A[n]}$ is rigid over any field, if $g\geq 1$ then $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A[n]}$ is rigid over any field of characteristic zero, and if $g+n > 4$ then the coarse moduli space $\overline{M}_{g,A[n]}$ is rigid over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. Finally, we take into account a degeneration of Hassett spaces parametrizing rational curves obtained by allowing the weights to have sum equal to two. In particular, we consider such a Hassett $3$-fold which is isomorphic to the Segre cubic hypersurface in $\mathbb{P}^4$, and we prove that its family of first order infinitesimal deformations is non-singular of dimension ten, and the general deformation is smooth., Comment: 14 pages

Let $SV^{\pmb n}_{\pmb d}$ be the Segre-Veronese given as the image of the embedding induced by the line bundle $\mathcal{O}_{\mathbb{P}^{n_1}\times\dots\times\mathbb{P}^{n_r}}(d_1,\dots, d_r)$. We prove that asymptotically $SV^{\pmb n}_{\pmb d}$ is not $h$-defective for $h\leq n_1^{\lfloor \log_2(d-1)\rfloor}$., Comment: 23 pages

We introduce a method to produce bounds for the non secant defectivity of an arbitrary irreducible projective variety, once we know how its osculating spaces behave in families and when the linear projections from them are generically finite. Then we analyze the relative dimension of osculating projections of Grassmannians, and as an application of our techniques we prove that asymptotically the Grassmannian $\mathbb{G}(r,n)$, parametrizing $r$-planes in $\mathbb{P}^n$, is not $h$-defective for $h\leq (\frac{n+1}{r+1})^{\lfloor\log_2(r)\rfloor}$. This bound improves the previous one $h\leq \frac{n-r}{3}+1$, due to H. Abo, G. Ottaviani and C. Peterson, for any $r\geq 4$., Comment: 30 pages

Let $X[n]$ be the Fulton-MacPherson compactification of the configuration space of $n$ ordered points on a smooth projective variety $X$. We prove that if either $n\neq 2$ or $\dim(X)\geq 2$, then the connected component of the identity of $Aut(X[n])$ is isomorphic to the connected component of the identity of $Aut(X)$. When $X = C$ is a curve of genus $g(C)\neq 1$ we classify the dominant morphisms $C[n]\rightarrow C[r]$, and thanks to this we manage to compute the whole automorphism group of $C[n]$, namely $Aut(C[n])\cong S_n\times Aut(C)$ for any $n\neq 2$, while $Aut(C[2])\cong S_2\ltimes (Aut(C)\times Aut(C))$. Furthermore, we extend these results on the automorphisms to the case where $X = C_1\times ... \times C_r$ is a product of curves of genus $g(C_i)\geq 2$. Finally, using the techniques developed to deal with Fulton-MacPherson spaces, we study the automorphism groups of some Kontsevich moduli spaces $\overline{M}_{0,n}(\mathbb{P}^N,d)$., Comment: 30 pages

In this paper we determine which blow-ups $X$ of $\mathbb{P}^n$ at general points are log Fano, that is, when there exists an effective $\mathbb{Q}$-divisor $\Delta$ such that $-(K_X+\Delta)$ is ample and the pair $(X,\Delta)$ is klt. For these blow-ups, we produce explicit boundary divisors $\Delta$ making $X$ log Fano., Comment: 30 pages

We study the birational geometry of some moduli spaces of abelian varieties with extra structure: in particular, with a symmetric theta structure and an odd theta characteristic. For a $(d_1,d_2)$-polarized abelian surface, we show how the parities of the $d_i$ influence the relation between canonical level structures and symmetric theta structures. For certain values of $d_1$ and $d_2$, a theta characteristic is needed in order to define Theta-null maps. We use these Theta-null maps and preceding work of other authors on the representations of the Heisenberg group to study the birational geometry and the Kodaira dimension of these moduli spaces., Comment: Final version. To appear in Commentarii Mathematici Helvetici (CMH)

The stack $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}$ of stable curves and its coarse moduli space $\overline{M}_{g,n}$ are defined over $\mathbb{Z}$, and therefore over any field. Over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, Hacking showed that $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}$ is rigid (a conjecture of Kapranov). Bruno and Mella for $g=0$, and the second author for $g\geq 1$ showed that its automorphism group is the symmetric group $S_n$, permuting marked points unless $(g,n)\in\{(0,4),(1,1),(1,2)\}$. The methods used in the papers above do not extend to positive characteristic. We show that in characteristic $p>0$, the rigidity of $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}$, with the same exceptions as over $\mathbb{C}$, implies that its automorphism group is $S_n$. We prove that, over any perfect field, $\overline{M}_{0,n}$ is rigid and deduce that, over any field, $Aut(\overline{M}_{0,n})\cong S_{n}$ for $n\geq 5$. Going back to characteristic zero, we prove that for $g+n>4$, the coarse moduli space $\overline M_{g,n}$ is rigid, extending a result of Hacking who had proven it has no locally trivial deformations. Finally, we show that $\overline{M}_{1,2}$ is not rigid, although it does not admit locally trivial deformations, by explicitly computing his Kuranishi family., Comment: Streamlined version. We added a study of the deformations of the coarse moduli scheme \bar{M}_{g,n} in characteristic zero (a question left open by P. Hacking in arXiv:math/0509567): via its description as a toric surface we show that \bar{M}_{1,2} has a 6-dimensional family of infinitesimal deformations and is smoothable, while \bar{M}_{g,n} is rigid for g+n>4

Let $X\subset\mathbb{P}^{N}$ be an irreducible, non-degenerate variety. The generalized variety of sums of powers $VSP_H^X(h)$ of $X$ is the closure in the Hilbert scheme $Hilb_{h}(X)$ of the locus parametrizing collections of points $\{x_{1},...,x_{h}\}$ such that the $(h-1)$-plane $\left\langle x_{1},...,x_{h}\right\rangle$ passes trough a fixed general point $p\in\mathbb{P}^{N}$. When $X = V_{d}^{n}$ is a Veronese variety we recover the classical variety of sums of powers $VSP(F,h)$ parametrizing additive decompositions of a homogeneous polynomial as powers of linear forms. In this paper we study the birational behavior of $VSP_H^X(h)$. In particular we will show how some birational properties, such as rationality, unirationality and rational connectedness, of $VSP_H^X(h)$ are inherited from the birational geometry of variety $X$ itself., Comment: 25 pages

Let $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A[n]}$ be the moduli stack parametrizing weighted stable curves, and let $\overline{M}_{g,A[n]}$ be its coarse moduli space. These spaces have been introduced by B. Hassett, as compactifications of $\mathcal{M}_{g,n}$ and $M_{g,n}$ respectively, by assigning rational weights $A = (a_{1},...,a_{n})$, $0< a_{i} \leq 1$ to the markings. In particular, the classical Deligne-Mumford compactification arises for $a_1 = ... = a_n = 1$. In genus zero some of these spaces appear as intermediate steps of the blow-up construction of $\overline{M}_{0,n}$ developed by M. Kapranov, while in higher genus they may be related to the LMMP on $\overline{M}_{g,n}$. We compute the automorphism groups of most of the Hassett's spaces appearing in the Kapranov's blow-up construction. Furthermore, if $g\geq 1$ we compute the automorphism groups of all Hassett's spaces. In particular, we prove that if $g\geq 1$ and $2g-2+n\geq 3$ then the automorphism groups of both $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,A[n]}$ and $\overline{M}_{g,A[n]}$ are isomorphic to a subgroup of $S_{n}$ whose elements are permutations preserving the weight data in a suitable sense., Comment: Exposition improved. Fixed a gap, pointed out by J. Hwang, in the factorization theorems

In the last years the biregular automorphisms of the Deligne-Mumford's and Hassett's compactifications of the moduli space of n-pointed genus g smooth curves have been extensively studied by A. Bruno and the authors. In this paper we give a survey of these recent results and extend our techniques to some moduli spaces appearing as intermediate steps of the Kapranov's and Keel's realizations of $\bar{M}_{0,n}$, and to the degenerations of Hassett's spaces obtained by allowing zero weights., Comment: 15 pages. The material of version 1 has been reorganized and expanded in this paper and in arXiv:1307.6828 on automorphisms of Hassett's moduli spaces

For every $p\leq n$ positive integer we obtain the lower bound $(3-\frac{1}{p+1})n^2-\big(2\binom{2p}{p+1}-\binom{2p-2}{p-1}+2\big)n$ for the rank of the $n\times n$ matrix multiplication. This bound improves the previous one $(3-\frac{1}{p+1})n^2-\big(1+2p\binom{2p}{p}\big)n$ due to Landsberg. Furthermore our bound improves the classic bound $\frac{5}{2}n^2-3n$, due to Bl\"aser, for every $n\geq 132$. Finally, for $p = 2$, with a sligtly different strategy we menage to obtain the lower bound $\frac{8}{3}n^2-7n$ which improves Bl\"aser's bound for any $n\geq 24$., Comment: 10 pages. New version, title and main result changed. Linear Algebra and its Applications 2013

Let $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}$ be the moduli stack parametrizing Deligne-Mumford stable $n$-pointed genus $g$ curves and let $\overline{M}_{g,n}$ be its coarse moduli space: the Deligne-Mumford compactification of the moduli space of $n$-pointed genus $g$ smooth curves. We prove that the automorphism groups of $\overline{\mathcal{M}}_{g,n}$ and $\overline{M}_{g,n}$ are isomorphic to the symmetric group on $n$ elements $S_{n}$ for any $g,n$ such that $2g-2+n\geq 3$, and compute the remaining cases., Comment: 22 pages

In this paper we give for any integer l > 2 a numerical criterion ensuring the existence of a chain of length l of lines through two general points of an irreducible variety X in P^N, involving the degrees and the number of homogeneous polynomials defining X. We show that our criterion is sharp., Comment: 8 pages

We study some properties of an embedded variety covered by lines and give a numerical criterion ensuring the existence of a singular conic through two of its general points. We show that our criterion is sharp. Conic-connected, covered by lines, QEL, LQEL, prime Fano, defective, and dual defective varieties are closely related. We study some relations between the above mentioned classes of objects using celebrated results by Ein and Zak., Comment: 13 pages, corrected reference

Varieties of Sums of Powers describe the additive decompositions of an homogeneous polynomial into powers of linear forms. Despite their long history, going back to Sylvester and Hilbert, few of them are known for special degrees and number of variables. In this paper we aim to understand a general birational behaviour of VSP, if any. To do this we birationally embed these varieties into Grassmannians and prove the rationality, unirationality or rational connectedness of many of those in arbitrary degrees and number of variables., Comment: 16 pages, corrected wrong attribution