13-million digit prime number discovered

[RichardUK]

http://us.cnn.com/2008/TECH/09/27/prime.number.ap/index.html

Apparently they discovered this number when trying to calculate the odds of Sarah Palin saying something intelligent during the VP debate next week.


A comedy basic, but someone had to say it :)

[quantass]

1. 'Bout a gawdamn time too!!! Now wherez that math problem i was working on

[Orsino]

2. It wasn't based on anything specific.

They just wanted a really large number.

[moriah]

3. So is that a Brazillian?

(runs away)

[adamuu]

6. LOL n/t

[Lochloosa]

4. This is like "Discovering America". How can you discover something that is always been there?

:shrug:

[moriah]

5. So were electrons. And planets we couldn't see without a telescope.

Most of math and science is finding things that we thought were there -- and were there all the time.

Specifically in prime numbers and other mathematical discoveries that seem silly (who cares about factoring huge numbers?), these will help with future encryption technologies.

I donate my computer time to matching ligands for cancer and other biochemical research. I did donate quite a bit to SETI, but I am a biology and chemistry girl even if I find space fascinating.

[Meshuga]

7. McCain should "cut the middle man" and have Tina Fey show up instead of Palin

The whole debate will sound like it is a parody anyway.

[rug]

8. They discovered it buried on page 87 of the bailout bill.