Scientists Believe a Complex Math Theory Is The Key to Talking to Aliens, and We're Close to Solving it
The world of mathematics is filled with marvelous mysteries. For many mathematicians ABC conjecture is possibly at the top of that list, stated Live Science. The problem is so confusing that even its proposed solution, the Inter-universal Teichmüller Theory (IUT), has been difficult for experts to understand. Recently, an expert published his understanding of the solution, which provides more insights into this difficult proposal.
The issue with the IUT proposed by mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki almost a decade ago was that its proponents do not have any similarity with other branches of mathematics. It bears so little resemblance to known mathematical concepts that many have deemed it to be 'an alien's language.' The complex theory has confounded experts for a whole decade, with only 20 managing to comprehend it to some extent. Zhou Zhongpeng, a software engineer, stunned everyone when he was able to detangle a significant chunk of IUT.
ABC conjecture, which the theory proposes to solve, has been around for four decades, according to New Scientist. The theory is represented by the equation a + b = c. In this equation, each letter stands for a whole number or an integer. Each of these integers can be divided into its prime factors. The conjecture claims that if one multiplies the distinct prime factors of a, b, and c together, the result will be more than c. If the ABC conjecture can be proven, then mathematicians will be able to garner a breakthrough in a host of other mathematical problems, like the tricky Fermat’s Last Theorem.
In 2012, Mochizuki published IUT as a solution for the ABC conjecture. The 500-page document was filled with concepts that completely deformed the typical theories of mathematical objects, such as numbers and functions like multiplication and addition. These concepts were transported to new frameworks where the objects could be altered in such a way that they gave different than usual results. The whole thing was so complicated that, despite being publicly available, it could never be peer reviewed and hence couldn't be accepted into a formal publication. Over the years, conferences have been organized to understand IUT, and even a 300-page summary has been published to help other experts in analyzing it.
Zhongpeng studied graph theory in the past as a doctoral candidate and developed an interest in IUT, according to Live Science. He examined the 500-page document in his spare time, and after five months, sent certain refinements and new applications he gathered from his examination. His investigation implied that principles of IUT can be used in many cases linked with generalized Fermat's Last Theorem. If true, then it is a considerable step forward in the pursuit of confirming IUT.
Zhongpeng's work impressed many, including mathematician Ivan Fesenko, who invited him to work with him at Westlake University, China. Zhongpeng accepted the offer and is currently working with Fesenko to further analyze IUT. If the team can verify IUT, then it can be applied in areas like cryptography, quantum computing, and the all-important ABC conjecture.