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42 *IS* The answer to Life, the Universe and Zeta

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the douglas-adams-was-right dept.

Venusian Treen writes "In their search for patterns, mathematicians have uncovered unlikely connections between prime numbers and quantum physics. The gist is that energy levels in the nucleus of heavy atoms can tell us about the distribution of zeros in Riemann's zeta function - and hence where to find prime numbers. This article discusses this connection, and introduces two physisicts who tell us 'why the answer to life, the universe and the third moment of the Riemann zeta function should be 42.'"

2 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. Re:The answer to everything is a Joke by vertinox · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Correct. But so is life... I mean if the meaning of life was a big joke, wouldn't this make sense?

    --
    "I am the king of the Romans, and am superior to rules of grammar!"
    -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437)
  2. gasp by Danathar · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I am disturbed.