Chapter 1383: Big Moves in Chinese Mathematics
“Hey! Have you heard? There seem to be big moves in the Chinese mathematics field recently!”
“What moves?”
“I heard from a new international student, that the Ministry of Science and Technology seems to have issued a reward of 100 million research funding for the ABC conjecture…”
“What, how much?! A hundred million!? Zimbabwe dollars?”
“Of course it’s yuan… Apparently, the people who research number theory are going crazy! Various public inst.i.tutions are even more amazed. They are offering high salaries to anyone who researches number theory. There seem to be quite a few Chinese mathematicians at Princeton who recently got an offer and returned to China, right? Apparently, that is related to this rumor.”
“ABC conjecture… A hundred million… Crazy, it’s crazy.”
Princeton cafe.
As one of the most famous news distribution centers in mathematics, there were always weird rumors about mathematics that could be found here.
One piece of gossip that had become quite popular recently was probably the news that was suddenly issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. There was constantly someone in the cafe talking about it with an envious look in their eyes.
A hundred million in research funding…
They couldn’t even imagine how to spend so much money. The only people who remained indifferent to this were probably those who stood at the top of the academic world and no longer cared about money.
There were many rumors about the origin of this fund, but most of the explanations were quite far-fetched.
After all, this matter itself was a bit ridiculous.
Everyone was at a loss. It was not clear why the Chinese Congress suddenly showed such interest in a purely mathematical problem and even offered such a jaw-dropping reward.
As a result, many foreign number theory scholars in the public research inst.i.tutes of China were now asking how to become naturalized and whether there were any shortcuts.
Professor Peter Sarnak, the former editor-in-chief of Annual Mathematics, said, “Recently, there seems to be a big move in the Chinese mathematics community.” Professor Fefferman was sitting opposite him. Peter Sarnak continued in a chatty tone while drinking coffee, “I hear a new rumor almost every day… Have you heard about it?”
“I’ve heard a little bit… But the thing I’m thinking about is different than what you’re talking about.”
“Oh really?” A look of interest suddenly appeared in his eyes. Professor Sarnak sat upright and stared at Professor Fefferman with interest. He asked, “Is there another big move?”
Professor Sarnak wasn’t the only one who smelled the gossip.
The several scholars sitting at the table next to them also lowered the volume of their speech, pretending to be drinking coffee. In fact, their ears were secretly listening.
“LSPM.” Professor Fefferman continued after taking a sip of coffee, “I don’t know if you’ve heard about it. I only saw it on Schultz’s blog last night.”
“LSPM?” Professor Sarnak frowned slightly and asked in confusion, “I haven’t heard of it. Do these four letters have a special meaning?”
“L is the acronym for Lu Zhou, S is Schultz, as well as P for Perelman and M for s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki. They recently established a research group on the ABC conjecture.”
After hearing this explanation, Professor Sarnak was shocked.
“ABC conjecture?! Are they…”
“Sounds very surprising, right? I was also very surprised. This is definitely the most powerful lineup in the history of modern mathematics. It is equivalent to an all-star team.” Professor Fefferman smiled and continued, “I bet that this game will be very exciting.”
“Is it for the 100 million yuan bonus? No, it’s impossible.” Professor Sanak was confused. “I heard that only domestic scholars can apply for it… And Lu Zhou doesn’t seem to be short of money.”
Not just Lu Zhou.
s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki, Schultz, and Perelman; none of them seemed to be interested in money.
“Of course it’s not for money,” Professor Fefferman continued with a sip of coffee. He calmly said, “However, my instinct tells me that there must be a story behind this. Believe me, it won’t take too long. We’ll hear about it soon.”
Just like how the ABC conjecture would be solved soon.
Professor Fefferman, who had worked with Lu Zhou, had no doubt about this.
He knew exactly how powerful that man was.
Also, this strength was not only because of his talent; Lu Zhou was also terribly hardworking. Especially when it came to forgoing sleep and eat. Even Princeton’s most diligent scholar couldn’t compare to his work ethic.
Fefferman couldn’t think of someone on Earth who was more likely to solve this problem than him.
“There is one thing I don’t understand.”
Before Professor Sarnak recovered from the surprise, Professor Fefferman said casually.
“Yeah, what?”
“s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki… How could his name also appear in this research group…?” Professor Sarnak continued with a weird expression on his face, “He always insisted that he had fully proven the ABC conjecture using his anabelian geometry.”
Fefferman was slightly stunned; the expression on his face also became weird.
Yeah…
Why is s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki in this research project group?!
He hadn’t thought about this problem before. But now he realized this was indeed a bit strange.
He had a sinking feeling in his stomach…
“Um… This is really a bit unusual. Wait, I’ll look for that paper.”
Professor Fefferman took out his new smartphone from his pocket and opened Mochizuki’s personal blog. He was about to find the paper that had troubled the mathematics community for more than ten years.
However, something unexpected happened.
Professor Fefferman, who was looking at his phone screen, was stunned.
Sarnak immediately noticed the change of expression on his old friend’s face. He leaned over and said, “What happened?”
“That paper… is missing.”
Fefferman suddenly realized something. He immediately closed s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki’s personal blog and logged onto the official website of the department of mathematics at Kyoto University.
I knew it!
I guessed it!
That 512-page paper that has been on the homepage of the Kyoto University mathematics website since August 30th, 2012…
Has disappeared as well?!
…
Ever since 2012, s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki’s proof of the ABC conjecture had been full of controversy. It was precisely because of this, that when the 500-page paper was removed from his personal blog and the homepage of the Kyoto University mathematics website, it attracted the attention of the entire academic community.
At first, many people thought it was a website problem.
It wasn’t until they saw his name appear in the list of the LSPM research group that this incident caused an uproar in the mathematics world.
At Kyoto University, whether it was the students or professors, whether they studied mathematics or philosophy, almost everyone was shocked by the news.
For a long time, this professor who challenged the entire mathematics circle with his own power had been a G.o.dlike existence in their eyes. Ever since he proclaimed the proof, someone would try to defeat him every once in a while, but he had stayed undefeated in the past ten years.
Those who refuted him could not produce any evidence that could be understood by others.
But now, their idol actually admitted his failure?!
There had to have been a mistake!
“I can’t accept this!”
Kyoto University, Professor Mochizuki’s office.
Hos.h.i.+ Yuichiro, who couldn’t get through to his professor’s phone, snarled madly while holding his cell phone.
“Professor Mochizuki must have been threatened! Or there must be something else! Until he clarifies this in person, I will not admit that he has actually given up!”
“Please calm down.”
“F*ck off! Don’t hold me! I’m going to China to find the professor!”
A younger student sat in an inconspicuous corner of the office. He raised his trembling right hand.
“Um, Professor Mochizuki just updated his blog.”
“Where? Let me see!”
Hos.h.i.+ Yuichiro opened the browser quickly and went on s.h.i.+nichi Mochizuki’s blog. Other people in the office also leaned over and watched behind the office chair.
It was a video that was less than twenty seconds in length.
Professor Mochizuki sat at a desk looking pretty good. At least, it looked like he wasn’t under intimidation. Hos.h.i.+hiro was slightly relieved when he noticed this, but soon, his nerves tightened again.
If he’s not under duress…
That means…
In an instant, Hos.h.i.+ Yuichiro’s face turned pale.
At the same time, the professor that he admired made a concise statement in front of the camera.
“The proof process has some problems. It may be difficult to fix them. Let’s treat it as an immature attempt from me.
“Fortunately, we have found new ideas.
“My apologies for the trouble I’ve caused for everyone!”
Hos.h.i.+ Yuichiro: “???”
Yamas.h.i.+ta: “???”