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A fundamental result in topology is that the $n$-sphere is not a retract of the $n+1$-ball. It implies that the $n$-sphere is not an absolute retract.

Is there a generalization from the sphere to closed manifolds (compact manifolds without boundary)? It would be the statement that no closed manifold is an absolute retract.

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  • $\begingroup$ Perhaps a bit more properties need to be assumed about the manifold? Do you know any sufficient conditions for your theorems to work? $\endgroup$ Mar 15, 2021 at 11:38

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A metrizable space is an absolute retract (AR) if and only if it is an absolute neighbourhood retract (ANR) and it is contractible.

Closed manifolds are not contractible (if $\dim M=n$ look at $H_n(M)$) hence they are not ARs. Note however that contractibility is the only obstruction for manifolds, since every topological manifold is an ANR.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you! I see here that $H_n(M; \mathbb{Z}_2)=\mathbb{Z}_2$. $\endgroup$
    – mathieu
    Mar 15, 2021 at 12:07
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    $\begingroup$ @mathieu: Yes, every closed topological manifold is $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$-orientable. For example, you can find the result and its proof in Hatcher's book, p.235 in 2nd ed. $\endgroup$
    – M.G.
    Mar 15, 2021 at 17:48

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