In mathematics, monstrous moonshine, or moonshine theory, is a term devised by John Horton Conway and Simon P. Norton in 1979, used to describe the (then totally unexpected) connection between the monster group M and modular functions (particularly, the j function).
Read more about Monstrous Moonshine: History, Formal Versions of Conway's and Norton's Conjectures, The Monster Module, Borcherds' Proof, Why "monstrous Moonshine"?
Famous quotes containing the words monstrous and/or moonshine:
“That monstrous tuberosity of civilised life, the capital of England.”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)
“O ruddier than the cherry,
O sweeter than the berry,
O Nymph more bright
Than moonshine night,
Like kidlings blithe and merry.
Ripe as the melting cluster,
No lily has such lustre,
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As raging flame,
And fierce as storms that bluster.”
—John Gay (1685–1732)