Numerology, 2008 edition

This is the year 2008. The number 2008 has four prime factors: 2×2×2×251. Last year had three (3×3×223) as does next year (7×7×41).

The year 2000 had 7 prime factors (2×2×2×2×5×5×5), which was the most since 1984, which also had 7 (2×2×2×2×2×2×31). 1944 had 8 (2×2×2×3×3×3×3×3), which we won’t see again until 2016 (2×2×2×2×2×3×3×7). 1920 had 9! (2×2×2×2×2×2×2×3×5.)

Those of us who can make it until 2048 will get to see an 11-factor year (2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2) and the first year since 1024 that’s a power of two, which is a big deal to computer nerds like me.

The most recent prime-number year was 2003 and the next is 2011. The most recent twin-prime years were 1997 and 1999, and the next are 2027 and 2029.

What is the significance of all this? Not a damn thing. But you read it all with interest, didn’t you?

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