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42nd Mersenne Prime Probably Discovered

Posted by Zonk on from the so-many-digits dept.

RTKfan writes "Chalk up another achievement for distributed computing! MathWorld is reporting that the 42nd, and now-largest, Mersenne Prime has probably been discovered. The number in question is currently being double-checked by George Woltman, organizer of GIMPS (the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search). If this pans out, GIMPS will have been responsible for the eight current largest Mersenne Primes ever discovered."

11 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. Of course... by rackhamh · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... the moment they discovered the 42nd prime, the world was immediately destroyed to make way for an intergalactic superhighway.

  2. Re:Uses? by selectspec · · Score: 5, Funny

    Chics dig it.

    --

    Someone you trust is one of us.

  3. Re:Uses? by Husgaard · · Score: 5, Funny
    I don't the any real use for this except finding large primes.

    The theory is that there is an infinite number of these numbers, but they are unlikely to prove the theory by finding them all...

  4. Mersenne Primes? Bah! by Guano_Jim · · Score: 5, Funny

    Call me when a distributed computing project finds Fruit Fucker Prime.

    --
    3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
  5. Probably silly reference by serutan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Reminds me of the first BlackAdder episode

    Lord Percy: "The King is dead! L-"
    Prince Harry [interrupting]: "Probably dead."
    Lord Percy: "The King is probably dead!"

  6. Spoiler alert about the number by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't read any farther if you don't like spoilers.






    Seriously, don't reead any farther....






    It only has two factors.

  7. Re:Uses? by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Chics dig it.

    Either that or their eyes glaze over and you sneak a quick peck before they slap you silly.

    "ah, l'amour"

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  8. Re:Immoral use of computing power by Stanistani · · Score: 5, Funny

    >What is number going to for us? Is it going to feed us? No. It would be better if the computer power was used for cancer research or finding aliens.

    Because of course aliens will feed us...
    They even will bring a cookbook with them, "To Serve Mankind."

    --
    You can't talk about Wikipedia's flaws on Wikipedia
  9. Yes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If this pans out, GIMPS will have been responsible for the eight current largest Mersenne Primes ever discovered.

    In your face, Photoshop!

  10. Re:Uses? by adeyadey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hi darling, ooh is that a gigantic Mersenne Prime, or are you just pleased to see me?

    --
    "You lied to me! There is a Swansea!"
  11. Re:Practical Applications/Uses? by geoffspear · · Score: 4, Funny
    Transmitting the same binary signal over and over seems unlikely to impress anyone. You're as likely to be sending a really boring all-white image as a really big prime number.

    If anything, anyone receiving the signal will wonder how you managed to build such a powerful transmitter when you haven't discovered binary numbers yet and are apparently using some sort of unary mathematics that really shouldn't work. They're bound to be disappointed when they find out you actually know about "0", but just weren't using it.

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    Don't blame me; I'm never given mod points.