A basic feature of number theory, prime numbers are also a fundamental building block of computer science, from hashtables to cryptography.

The problem is that the prime numbers do not seem to follow a simple pattern and instead appear randomly among the natural numbers.

Mathematicians are stunned by the discovery that prime numbers are pickier than previously thought. The find suggests number theorists need to be a little more careful when exploring the vast ...

For centuries, prime numbers have captured the imaginations of mathematicians, who continue to search for new patterns that help identify them and the way they’re distributed among other numbers.

One modern-day instance of practical use for prime numbers is in RSA encryption, which allows two parties to pass secret messages back and forth using independent encryption and decryption codes.

The discovery of M136279841 is the first prime found using this new GPU-driven approach, and it signals a new era for both prime hunting and the broader use of GPUs in scientific research.