"Hey! Did you hear? There seems to be a big move in China's mathematics community recently! "
"… What big move?"
"I heard from the new students that their Ministry of Science and Technology seems to have issued a document offering a reward of 100 million yuan for the ABC conjecture …"
"Pfft, how much?! 100 million?! In Zimbabwe dollars? "
"Of course it's in their own currency … I heard that many people who study number theory have gone crazy! Various public institutions are even more crazy. As long as they study number theory, they will offer a high salary. There seems to be a lot of Chinese mathematicians in Princeton. They recently got an offer to return to China, right? It seems to be related to this rumor. "
"ABC conjecture … 100 million … Crazy, it's crazy."
Princeton coffee shop.
As one of the most famous gossip centers in mathematics, there were always some strange rumors about the mathematics community here.
One of the more popular gossip recently was probably the internal document that China's Ministry of Science and Technology suddenly issued. As long as one sat here, one could see people whispering about this matter with an envious expression.
100 million yuan of scientific research funding …
They couldn't imagine how to spend that much money. The only people who could remain indifferent to this were the big shots who stood at the top of the academic world and didn't care about money.
There were many versions of the rumor about the origin of this 100 million yuan, but most of the explanations were quite far-fetched.
After all, this matter itself was a bit weird.
Everyone was confused. They couldn't figure out why China would suddenly show such interest in a pure mathematics problem. They even offered such a jaw-dropping reward.
Many foreign number theory scholars in China's public research institutes were now inquiring about how to become naturalized and whether there was a way to take a shortcut.
"There seems to be a big move in China's mathematics community recently," said Professor Peter Sarnak, the former editor-in-chief of Annual Mathematics, who was sitting by the window and looking at Professor Fefferman sitting across from him. He drank his coffee and said, "I've been hearing a new version almost every day for the past two days … Have you heard?"
"I've heard a little bit … But the thing I want to say may not be the same thing as what you think."
"Oh?" A look of interest appeared in Professor Sarnak's eyes. He sat up straight and stared at Professor Fefferman. He asked with interest, "Is there something else?"
Professor Sarnak wasn't the only one who smelled gossip.
The scholars sitting at the next table also subconsciously lowered their volume and pretended to be drinking coffee, but in fact, their ears were already perked up.
"LSPM." After taking a sip of coffee, Professor Fefferman continued, "I don't know if you've heard of it, but I only saw it on Schulz's blog last night."
“lspm？” Professor Sarnak frowned and asked, "… I've never heard of this before. Is there any special meaning to these four letters?"
"L is the initials of Lu Zhou, s is Schulz, and Perelman and Shinichi Mochizuki. They recently set up a research group to study the ABC conjecture."
When Professor Sarnak heard this explanation, he was shocked.
"ABC conjecture?! Are they … "
"It sounds surprising, right? I'm also quite surprised. This is definitely the most luxurious lineup in the history of modern mathematics. It's equivalent to putting the world's top stars in a team. "Professor Fefferman smiled and continued," I bet this game will be very exciting. "
"Is it for the 100 million yuan bonus? No, that's impossible, "Professor Sarnak muttered to himself. He was dumbfounded as he said," I heard that only local scholars can apply … And Lu Zhou doesn't seem to be short of money. "
It wasn't just Lu Zhou who wasn't short of money.
Shinichi Mochizuki, Schulz, and Perelman didn't seem to be interested in money.
"Of course it can't be for money." Professor Fefferman took a sip of coffee calmly 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 for us to know. "
Just like how it wouldn't take long for the ABC conjecture to be solved.
Professor Fefferman, who had worked with Lu Zhou before, had no doubt about this.
He knew very well how powerful that man was.
Moreover, this kind of strength was not only because of his talent, but also because of his diligence. Especially when it came to forgetting food and sleep, even the most diligent scholars in Princeton would be inferior.
If he had to find someone in this world who was more likely to solve this problem than him, Fefferman felt that he could only go to the universe outside of Earth.
"There is one thing I don't understand."
Professor Fefferman looked at Professor Sarnak, who still hadn't recovered from the surprise.
"What?"
"Shinichi Mochizuki, how did his name appear in this research project …" Professor Sarnak continued with a strange expression on his face, "Didn't he always insist that he has completely proved the ABC conjecture? With his' Far Abelian geometry '. "
Fefferman was slightly stunned, and the expression on his face became strange.
Yeah …
Why is Shinichi Mochizuki also in this research project?!
He didn't realize this problem at all before. Now that he thought about it carefully, it was indeed a bit strange.
This feeling was as if he had swallowed back something he had spat out …
"Oh … This is indeed a bit unusual. Wait, let me find the paper."
Professor Fefferman took out the smartphone from his pocket and opened Shinichi Mochizuki's personal blog. He was about to find the paper that had embarrassed the mathematics community for more than ten years.
However, something unexpected happened.
Professor Fefferman, who was looking at the phone screen, suddenly froze.
Professor Sarnak keenly noticed the change in expression on his old friend's face. He couldn't wait to stand up and leaned over. "What happened?"
"That paper … is gone."
Suddenly realizing something, Fefferman immediately exited Shinichi Mochizuki's personal blog and logged on to the official website of the Department of Mathematics of Kyoto University.
As expected!
Just like what he had predicted!
The 512-page paper that had been posted on the homepage of the Department of Mathematics of Kyoto University since August 30, 2012 …
It disappeared?!
…
Since 2012, Shinichi Mochizuki's proof of the ABC conjecture had been full of controversy. Because of this, when the 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.
At first, many people thought it was a network problem.
It wasn't until his name appeared on the list of the LSPM research group that this matter caused an uproar in the mathematics community.
Especially at Kyoto University, whether it was students or professors, whether it was mathematics or philosophy, almost everyone was shocked by this news.
This professor, who had challenged the entire mathematics community with his own strength, was a god-like existence in their eyes. Ever since he announced the proof, almost every once in a while, someone would come to challenge him, but he had never lost in the past ten years.
At least the people who refuted him couldn't come up with any evidence that others could understand.
But now, the idol in their hearts actually admitted his failure?!
There must be something wrong here!
"I can't accept this!"
Kyoto University, Professor Mochizuki's office.
Hoshi Yuichiro, who couldn't get through to the professor's phone, held his phone and roared like crazy.
"Professor Mochizuki must have been coerced! Or there must be something else! Before he clarifies this in person, I won't admit that the professor actually admitted defeat! "
"Hoshi Yuichiro, please calm down."
"F * ck off! Don't stop me! I'm going to China to find the professor! "
At this moment, sitting in an inconspicuous corner of the office, a slightly younger student looked at Hoshi Yuichiro, who seemed to have gone crazy, and raised his right hand in trepidation.
"Um, Professor Mochizuki just updated his blog."
"Where? Let me see! "
Hoshi Yuichiro rushed to the computer desk, opened the browser skillfully, and entered Shinichi Mochizuki's personal blog. Including Mochizuki's proud student, Yamashita Takeshi, the others in the office also gathered around and watched from behind the office chair.
It was a video, less than twenty seconds long.
Professor Mochizuki, who was sitting at the desk, looked pretty good. At least, he didn't look like he was coerced. Hoshi Yuichiro heaved a sigh of relief, but he quickly tensed up again.
If he wasn't coerced …
That also meant that …
In an instant, Hoshi Yuichiro's face turned pale.
Almost at the same time, just as he had predicted, the professor sitting at the desk that he admired used his nostrils to the camera and made a concise statement.
"There are indeed some problems with the proof process. It may be difficult to fix it. Let's just treat it as an immature attempt.
"Fortunately, we found a new way of thinking.
"Sorry for the trouble I've caused you all!"
Hoshi Yuichiro: "???"
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