All continuous $GL(n)$ covariant valuations that map convex bodies to convex bodies are completely classified. This establishes a characterization of moment and projection operators and shows that the Holmes-Thompson area is the unique Minkowski area that is also a bivaluation.

We prove that energy minimizing Yang–Mills connections on compact homogeneous 4-manifolds are either instantons or split into a sum of instantons on passage to the adjoint bundle. We prove related results for Calabi–Yau 3-folds and for 3-dimensional manifolds of nonnegative Ricci curvature.