Spike Jones wrote:
> > Spike Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Mersenne primes might
> > > be the *best* yardstick to *prove* a certain level of technological
> > > achievement, perhaps the most logical yardstick.
> >
> > Bryan Fullerton wrote: Of course, that yardstick measures both ways - it could
> > also prove technological inferiority... "They've only found the first 3000 2^n-1
> > primes?
> > Such slow creatures!" ;)
>
> True Bryan, but recall that lithium computer exercise we did last week.
> All ET intelligences would be subject to the same physical constraints
> that we are. Unless some ET figures out a Myxlptlk theorum that generates
> all the 2^n-1 primes, just having found 37 of them will impress advanced
> societies. Specifically, that we are so processor rich that we can afford
> to squander it on amusing ourselves.
Perhaps we should wait until the supposed close breakthrough of
computing with quantum mechanics...
Simon.
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