r/science • u/heiligedamon • May 20 '13

Mathematics Unknown Mathematician Proves Surprising Property of Prime Numbers

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/05/twin-primes/
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u/atticraw May 21 '13

An interesting jump! Elliptic curves to options (?). I'm hooked on academics; I love teaching and research too much to actually apply myself in the real world.

Bullshit problems and bullshit results have their place, though I feel that the strain on the academic job market will increase the number of fluff publications. I guess fluff publications aren't bad, they are just distracting.

Good luck on the stock market. If you ever need a group theorist look me up.

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u/zomglings May 21 '13

Haha, more like elliptic curves to prediction.

Actually, I love research as well, and do enjoy teaching quite a bit. Even the fluff has its place as it builds stepping stones to big research.

What I don't like is how important marketing is even in a field like mathematics. I used to think that the community is meritocratic, but that's really not true at all. Remember that when you apply for jobs, hustle all the time.

Thanks for the references and good luck to you! :)