On April 17, a paper arrived in the inbox of Annals of Mathematics, one of the discipline’s preeminent journals. Written by a mathematician virtually unknown to the experts in his field — a 50-something lecturer at the University of New Hampshire named Yitang Zhang — the paper claimed to have taken a huge step forward in understanding one of mathematics’ oldest problems, the twin primes conjecture.
Editors of prominent mathematics journals are used to fielding grandiose claims from obscure authors, but this paper was different. Written with crystalline clarity and a total command of the topic’s current state of the art, it was evidently a serious piece of work, and the Annals editors decided to put it on the fast track.
Just three weeks later — a blink of an eye compared to the usual pace of mathematics journals — Zhang received the referee report on his paper.
“The main results are of the first rank,” one of the referees wrote. The author had proved “a landmark theorem in the distribution of prime numbers.”
Presentation to the Joint Chiefs Operations Directorate
November 11, 2022
31 Responses
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
Every academic’s dream: On April 17, a paper arrived in the inbox of Annals of Mathematics, one of the discipl… http://t.co/UtSxtHQv9h
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @Sadgrovem: MT #2primesconjecture: classic number theory problem. Is theorem finally proved? “@JohnRentoul: RT @bill_easterly” http://t.…
Sometimes, great ideas come out of nowhere. ‘Unknown’ math lecturer solves a famous problem: http://t.co/74KqXsFZzw (via @bill_easterly)
“Fascinating! “There are a lot of chances in your career, but the important thing is to keep thinking.” http://t.co/MDylvn1f71
RT @JohnRentoul: RT @bill_easterly Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/PhKS8MOGgb
MT #2primesconjecture: classic number theory problem. Is theorem finally proved? “@JohnRentoul: RT @bill_easterly” http://t.co/DyOfV9WOfp”
RT @JohnRentoul: RT @bill_easterly Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/PhKS8MOGgb
RT @cblatts: Every academic’s dream http://t.co/ymqjC5qGBx
“@JohnRentoul: RT @bill_easterly Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves breakthrough -we can all dream! http://t.co/lZDBVJNSoJ”#nevertoolate
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/PhKS8MOGgb
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
RT @bill_easterly: Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
Unknown math prof in his 50s achieves great breakthrough – we can all dream! http://t.co/Qe2cGHY8I6
This will never happen in political science.
Pity this would never happen in economics.
RT @cblatts: Every academic’s dream http://t.co/ymqjC5qGBx
RT @cblatts: Every academic’s dream http://t.co/ymqjC5qGBx
I can certainly identify, years laboring in obscurity like you’re a crazy person. Great story:Every academic’s dream http://t.co/Jn52zcDoMH
@cblatts the breakthrough, or the three-week referee report ?