A priori obstructions to resolution of singularities

Abstract: We present an argument due to Thom to formulate a priori cohomology obstructions for a projective variety to admit an embedded resolution of singularities, and generalize the argument to a field of characteristic $p > 0$. We show that these obstructions are defined for a general cohomology theory that satisfies localization, \'etale excision, and $\mathbb{A}^1$-invariance, and is equipped with a proper pushforward. As examples, we show that odd degree Steenrod homology operations on higher Chow groups mod $\ell$, defined by a suitable $E_{\infty}$-algebra structure, vanish on the fundamental class of a smooth variety, where $\ell$ is any prime. We extend this general vanishing result to arbitrary varieties for operations defined mod $\ell \neq p$. Along the way, we also obtain a Wu formula for the mod $p$ Steenrod operations in the case of closed embeddings of smooth varieties.