"I heard from a new international student that their Ministry of Science and Technology seemed to have issued a document offering a reward of 100 million in scientific research funds for the ABC conjecture..."
Everyone was confused and couldn't figure out why China would suddenly show such interest in a purely mathematical problem and even offer such a jaw-dropping reward.
Since 2012, Mochizuki Shinichi’s proof of the ABC conjecture has been full of controversy. It is precisely because of this that when the more than 500-page paper was removed from his personal blog and the homepage of the Department of Mathematics of Kyoto University, it attracted the attention of the entire academic community.
"Senior Xingyu, please calm down."
really!
"Pfft—how much?! One hundred million!? Zimbabwe dollars?"
"Hiss... This is indeed a bit unusual. Wait, let me look for that paper."
"Of course it can't be for money," Professor Fefferman calmly took a sip of coffee and continued with a smile, "However, my intuition tells me that there must be other stories behind this. Believe me, it won't take too long. We’ll find out soon.”
"Get out! Don't hold me! I'm going to China to find the professor!"
There are many versions of rumors about the origin of this 100 million, but most of the explanations are quite far-fetched.
"It sounds surprising, right? I'm surprised too. This is definitely the most luxurious lineup in the history of modern mathematics. By analogy, it's equivalent to putting the world's top stars in a team to play. Professor Fefferman smiled and continued, "I bet this game will be very exciting."
One of the more popular pieces of gossip recently is probably the internal document suddenly released by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. As long as you sit here, you can see someone talking about this matter in a low voice with an envious expression.
"ABC guess... 100 million... is crazy, simply crazy."
Fefferman was stunned for a moment, and the expression on his face became strange.
That means...
"Oh?" A look of interest suddenly appeared in his eyes. Professor Sarnak, who was leaning on his chair, sat up straight, stared at Professor Fefferman with bright eyes, and asked with interest, "Are there any others?" A big move?"
Café in Princeton.
"I've heard a little bit...but the thing I want to say may not be the same as what you think."
There must be something wrong here!
They can't even imagine how to spend so much money. The only ones who can be indifferent to this are probably those who are at the top of the academic world and don't care about worldly money at all.
Yamashita Tsuyoshi: "???"
"Fortunately, we found new ideas."
"There seems to be a big movement in Chinese mathematics recently," said Professor Peter Sarnak, former editor-in-chief of the "Annals of Mathematics", sitting by the window and looking at Professor Fefferman sitting opposite him, while drinking coffee. While speaking in a casual tone, he said, "I've been hearing a brand new version almost every day for the past two days... Have you heard about it?"
"I can't accept it!"
But now, their idol actually admitted his failure? !
At first, many people thought it was a network problem.
"There's something I can't figure out."
…
It’s not just Lu Zhou who is not short of money.
If he had to find someone in this world who was more likely to solve this problem than him, Fefferman felt that he might have to look for it in the universe beyond the earth.
"The paper... is gone."
Suddenly realizing something, Fefferman immediately withdrew from Mochizuki Shinichi's personal blog and logged into the official website of the Department of Mathematics of Kyoto University.
Professor Fefferman, who has worked with Lu Zhou, has no doubt about this.
Kyoto University, in Professor Mochizuki's office.
It wasn't just Professor Sarnak who smelled the gossip.
As one of the most famous gossip news gathering places in the mathematics world, you can always hear some weird rumors about the mathematics world here.
"Of course it's the national currency... It's said that many of them who study number theory have gone crazy! Various public institutions are poaching people like crazy. Anyone who studies number theory is offered a high salary. We at Princeton There seem to be a lot of Chinese mathematicians around here, who have recently received offers to return to China, right? It is said that it seems to be related to this rumor."
"...What big move?"
"L is the abbreviation of Lu Zhou, S is Schultz, Perelman and Mochizuki Shinichi. They recently established a research group, and the research direction is the ABC conjecture."
Moreover, this strength is not only due to his talent, this guy is also terrifyingly diligent. Especially when it comes to forgetting to sleep and eat, even the most diligent scholar at Princeton may feel inferior.
"L·S·P·M," Professor Fefferman continued after taking a sip of coffee, "I don't know if you have heard of it. I only saw it on Schulz's blog last night."
Just like the ABC conjecture will be solved soon.
100 million in scientific research funding...
At this moment, sitting in an inconspicuous corner of the office, a slightly younger student Yuichiro Hoshi, who looked like he was crazy, raised his right hand fearfully.
So much so that many foreign number theorists in public research institutes in China are now asking about how to become naturalized and whether there are any shortcuts.
It wasn't until he saw his name appearing on the list of the L.S.P.M research group that this incident caused an uproar in the mathematics community.
However, something unexpected happened.
At least those who refuted him couldn't produce any evidence that others could understand.
Throwing himself at the computer desk, Hoshi Yuichiro skillfully opened the browser and entered Mochizuki Shinichi's personal blog. Other people in the office, including Mochizuki's protégé Yamashita Tsuyoshi, also came closer and stood behind the office chair to watch.
"Professor Mochizuki must have been coerced! Or there must be something hidden! Until he clarifies this in person, I will not admit that Professor has actually given up!"
He had not realized this problem at all before, but now that he thought about it carefully, it was indeed a bit strange.
"L.S.P.M?" Professor Sarnak frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "...I probably haven't heard of it. Do these four letters have any special meaning?"
Just as he predicted!
"Where is it? Let me see!"
Hoshi Yuichiro: "???"
It was a video, less than twenty seconds long.
Almost at the same time, just as he had predicted, the professor he admired sitting at the desk made a concise statement with his nostrils facing the camera.
If there is no coercion...
Upon hearing this explanation, Professor Sarnak was immediately shocked.
"Mochizuki Shinichi, how come his name also appears in this research group..." With a strange expression on his face, Professor Sarnak continued, "Hasn't he always insisted that he has completely proved the ABC conjecture? ?with his 'far Abelian geometry'."
Hoshi Yuichiro, who couldn't get through to the professor, held his phone and roared like crazy.
yes…
Keenly noticing the change in expression on his old friend's face, Professor Sarnak immediately stood up impatiently and approached, "What happened?"
Professor Fefferman, who was looking at the screen of his mobile phone, was suddenly stunned.
He actually disappeared too? !
"There are indeed some problems in the certification process, and it may be difficult to repair them. Let's just treat it as an immature attempt."
Why is Mochizuki Shinichi also in this research group? !
Several scholars sitting at the table next to him also subconsciously lowered their speaking volumes and pretended to be drinking coffee. In fact, their ears were perked up.
Professor Mochizuki, who was sitting at his desk, looked in good condition, at least he didn't look like he was being coerced. After noticing this, Hoshi Yuichiro felt a little relieved, but soon his nerves became tense again.
For a long time, this professor who single-handedly challenged the entire mathematical world has been a god-like existence in their eyes. Since he claimed the proof, people have come to play at almost every once in a while, but it can be said that he has never failed in the past ten years.
This feeling is like eating something you vomited out...
Looking at Professor Sarnak who still had not recovered from his surprise, Professor Fefferman said casually.
Including Mochizuki Shinichi, Schultz, and Perelman, no one seems to be interested in money.
The 512-page paper has been posted on the homepage of the Department of Mathematics at Kyoto University since August 30, 2012...
In an instant, Hoshi Yuichiro's face turned pale.
"whats the matter?"
"...Well, Professor Mochizuki just updated a blog."
With that said, Professor Fefferman took out his recently replaced smartphone from his pocket, opened Mochizuki Shinichi's personal blog, and was about to find the paper that had troubled the mathematics community for more than ten years.
"Hey! Have you heard about it? There seems to be a big move in the Chinese mathematics community recently!"
After all, the matter itself is somewhat bizarre.
He knew very well how powerful that man was.
"ABC guess?! Could it be that they..."
Especially at Kyoto University, whether students or professors, whether they study mathematics or philosophy, almost everyone was shocked by the news.
"During this period, I have been causing trouble to everyone!"
"Is it for the 100 million yuan bonus? No, it's impossible," Professor Sarnak muttered to himself, and he was completely confused. "I heard that only domestic scholars can apply... And Lu Zhou doesn’t seem to be short of money either.”