Unknown Mathematician Proves Elusive Property of Prime Numbers

[Wilikon]

hopefully no impact on Bitcoin?  (I suck at math)  

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/twin-primes/all/

"... In particular, “twin” primes often crop up — pairs such as 3 and 5, or 11 and 13, that differ by only 2. And while such pairs get rarer among larger numbers, twin primes never seem to disappear completely (the largest pair discovered so far is 3,756,801,695,685 x 2666,669 – 1 and 3,756,801,695,685 x 2666,669 + 1).
For hundreds of years, mathematicians have speculated that there are infinitely many twin prime pairs. In 1849, French mathematician Alphonse de Polignac extended this conjecture to the idea that there should be infinitely many prime pairs for any possible finite gap, not just 2.

Since that time, the intrinsic appeal of these conjectures has given them the status of a mathematical holy grail, even though they have no known applications. But despite many efforts at proving them, mathematicians weren’t able to rule out the possibility that the gaps between primes grow and grow, eventually exceeding any particular bound.

Now Zhang has broken through this barrier. His paper shows that there is some number N smaller than 70 million such that there are infinitely many pairs of primes that differ by N. No matter how far you go into the deserts of the truly gargantuan prime numbers — no matter how sparse the primes become — you will keep finding prime pairs that differ by less than 70 million.

The result is “astounding,” said Daniel Goldston, a number theorist at San Jose State University. “It’s one of those problems you weren’t sure people would ever be able to solve.”

[jackjack]

hopefully no impact on Bitcoin?  (I suck at math) 

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/twin-primes/all/

"... In particular, “twin” primes often crop up — pairs such as 3 and 5, or 11 and 13, that differ by only 2. And while such pairs get rarer among larger numbers, twin primes never seem to disappear completely (the largest pair discovered so far is 3,756,801,695,685 x 2666,669 – 1 and 3,756,801,695,685 x 2666,669 + 1).
For hundreds of years, mathematicians have speculated that there are infinitely many twin prime pairs. In 1849, French mathematician Alphonse de Polignac extended this conjecture to the idea that there should be infinitely many prime pairs for any possible finite gap, not just 2.

Since that time, the intrinsic appeal of these conjectures has given them the status of a mathematical holy grail, even though they have no known applications. But despite many efforts at proving them, mathematicians weren’t able to rule out the possibility that the gaps between primes grow and grow, eventually exceeding any particular bound.

Now Zhang has broken through this barrier. His paper shows that there is some number N smaller than 70 million such that there are infinitely many pairs of primes that differ by N. No matter how far you go into the deserts of the truly gargantuan prime numbers — no matter how sparse the primes become — you will keep finding prime pairs that differ by less than 70 million.

The result is “astounding,” said Daniel Goldston, a number theorist at San Jose State University. “It’s one of those problems you weren’t sure people would ever be able to solve.”

No impact on Bitcoin

[ondratra]

Possibly someone could extend this in another research, but Bitcoin is surely safe for now

[Phinnaeus Gage]

No impact on Bitcoin

Let's hope the VC W Twins feel the same way.

[Promethium]

  Well that proves it for me!

[oakpacific]

No impact on Bitcoin

Let's hope the VC W Twins feel the same way.

VCs who know something about primes? You kidding me?

[jaywaka2713]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

[Remember remember the 5th of November]

Must be Shinichi Mochizuki.

[jackjack]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

Why would prime numbers affect banks?

[Phinnaeus Gage]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

Why would prime numbers affect banks?

Because they will have to train their staff in accepting the new 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 dollar bills, of which only 21,000,003 will be created.

[jackjack]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

Why would prime numbers affect banks?

Because they will have to train their staff in accepting the new 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 dollar bills, of which only 21,000,003 will be created.

I'm not sure 21,000,003 is prime 

[ElectricMucus]

Well given it has a value in it, the 70 million it isn't really something dramatic.

The thing with proofs about number theory is: Scale does not matter, only relationships which work on any scale count. It's still an accomplishment but scientific progress in mathematics depends on fundamental proofs.

[Rassah]

Just means if you know someone's Litecoin address, you can steal their Feathercoins 

[Foxpup]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

Why would prime numbers affect banks?

Because they will have to train their staff in accepting the new 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 dollar bills, of which only 21,000,003 will be created.

Don't you mean 20,999,999?

[Phinnaeus Gage]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

Why would prime numbers affect banks?

Because they will have to train their staff in accepting the new 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 dollar bills, of which only 21,000,003 will be created.

Don't you mean 20,999,999?

I see you found its twin.

[RichG]

If anything, why would prime numbers affect Bitcoin in the first place?

Why would prime numbers affect banks?

Because they will have to train their staff in accepting the new 1, 3, 5, 7 and 11 dollar bills, of which only 21,000,003 will be created.

LOL.