In the news
Articles, videos and podcasts about superpermutations. Did I miss one? Contact me here.
| Date | Outlet | Story | Language | Archived copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | WBUR, Endless Thread | The Haruhi Problem: How anime and 4Chan solved a decades-old math puzzle podcastPublic-radio podcast episode on the 4chan Haruhi thread and the superpermutation lower bound. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Aug 26, 2026 | The Aperiodical | Double Maths First Thing: Issue 67Maths newsletter with a one-line mention of a new length-5905 superpermutation for n = 7. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Aug 22, 2026 | DekWit (YouTube) | ปริศนา 20 ปีที่แก้ไม่ได้แต่ คนดูอนิเมะ ทำได้ | Haruhi Problem Explained videoThai explainer on the Haruhi problem, citing the 2018 lower-bound paper and Greg Egan's superpermutation page. | Thai | Wayback Machine |
| Aug 10, 2026 | 化け学のふしぎ【ゆっくり解説】 (YouTube) | 「涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱」を視聴するために編み出した公式、25年間の未解明問題だと発覚し学会に激震が走る【ゆっくり解説】 videoJapanese synthetic-voice explainer on the superpermutation problem, the 2018 Egan and Houston work and the 4chan proof. | Japanese | Wayback Machine |
| Jul 31, 2026 | AlphaSignal | Epoch Expands FrontierMath to 50 Unsolved Problems AI Has Already Cracked ThreeAI-news report on Epoch AI's FrontierMath: Open Problems benchmark, citing GPT-5.6-Sol beating the best known upper bounds for superpermutations on 8, 9 and 10 symbols. | English | Wayback Machine |
| May 16, 2026 | ITmedia NEWS | 「涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱」の視聴順を巡る4chan匿名ユーザーの投稿→うっかり数学の未解決問題で歴史的発見 2021年に論文化Japanese tech column revisits the 4chan lower bound for minimal superpermutations and its 2021 publication. | Japanese | Wayback Machine |
| Sep 1, 2025 | CHIP Polska | To pytanie o anime przełamało naukowy impas. Matematycy potwierdzili jego metodę i oficjalnie opublikowali dowódPolish tech site retells the 4chan superpermutation proof and its formal publication. | Polish | Wayback Machine |
| May 12, 2025 | ド文系でも楽しい【ゆっくり数学の雑学】 (YouTube) | アニメオタクが発見した数学の公式が数学界を揺るがせました videoJapanese synthetic-voice explainer on the formula an anime fan posted, about the Haruhi superpermutation bound. | Japanese | Wayback Machine |
| Apr 1, 2025 | 코딩애플 (YouTube) | 수학 난제를 증명해버린 익명의 4chan 유저 (하루히 문제) videoKorean programming channel explains superpermutations and the anonymous 4chan proof of the Haruhi problem. | Korean | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 25, 2025 | Jornal da Fronteira | Haruhi Suzumiya e o enigma da superpermutaçãoBrazilian regional news site retells the 4chan Haruhi question and the superpermutation bound. | Portuguese (Brazil) | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 8, 2025 | Pepper Note (페퍼노트, newsletter on maily.so) | '스즈미야 하루히의 우울'을 보려다가 풀어버린 수학 난제Korean newsletter issue explaining superpermutations through the Haruhi problem. | Korean | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 7, 2025 | Boing Boing | Anonymous anime fan solves complex superpermutation puzzle on 4chanShort post summarising the Scientific American story on the 4chan superpermutation proof. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Popular Mechanics | An Internet Commenter Asked One Innocent Question—and Accidentally Caused a Major Math ConundrumFeature on the 4chan Haruhi question, the lower bound and its write-up crediting 'Anonymous 4chan Poster'. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 4, 2025 | SecurityLab.ru | Формула, рождённая в хаосе: как аниме-фанат опередил профессиональных математиковRussian tech-news piece on the anonymous 4chan lower bound and its later recognition. | Russian | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 3, 2025 | Scientific American | How Anime Fans Stumbled upon a Mathematical ProofEnglish version of Bischoff's Spektrum column on the Haruhi problem, the 4chan lower bound and Egan's upper bound. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Feb 21, 2025 | Spektrum der Wissenschaft | Superpermutation und Anime: 4chan-User gelingt Mathe-BeweisColumn in 'Die fabelhafte Welt der Mathematik' retelling the Haruhi problem, the 4chan lower bound and Egan's upper bound. | German | Wayback Machine |
| Sep 17, 2024 | Sideprojects (YouTube) | The Most Amazing Mathematical Discoveries Made by Amateurs videoDocumentary-style survey of amateur discoveries that includes the 4chan superpermutation proof. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Math & Logic (YouTube) | 引爆数学问题的超级宅男，做出了什么超凡贡献？｜最小超排列｜春日问题｜Haruhi Problem videoChinese explainer on minimal superpermutations and the anonymous Haruhi-problem proof. | Chinese (Simplified) | Wayback Machine |
| May 25, 2023 | Sergio Fernandez (YouTube) | El anime que resolvió una conjetura matemática | El problema de Haruhi videoSpanish explainer on superpermutations and the 2011 4chan proof. | Spanish | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 7, 2020 | Listverse | Top 10 Remarkable Achievements Of 4chanListicle whose number 10 entry is the 4chan proof about watching Haruhi in every order. | English | archive.today |
| Mar 22, 2019 | Wrong, But Useful | Wrong, But Useful: Episode 65 podcastMaths podcast episode with a segment on superpermutations alongside Matt Parker's book Humble Pi. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Mar 11, 2019 | Stand-up Maths (YouTube) | New Superpermutations Discovered! videoMatt Parker covers the new n = 7 records, including Greg Egan's 5906-length superpermutation, and has it played on a self-playing piano. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Feb 12, 2019 | Wrong, But Useful | Wrong, But Useful: Episode 64 podcastMaths podcast episode with a short segment on the new n = 7 superpermutation record. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Jan 28, 2019 | Stand-up Maths (YouTube) | Superpermutations: the maths problem solved by 4chan videoMatt Parker tells the story of the 4chan lower bound, Egan's upper bound and the n = 6 search, with Robin Houston. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Jan 16, 2019 | Quanta Magazine | Unscrambling the Hidden Secrets of SuperpermutationsQuantized Academy column that works through superpermutations at a high-school level, following up the November 2018 feature. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Nov 18, 2018 | 大老李聊数学 | S2E21. “凉宫春日的忧郁”有几种看法？-- 超级排列数问题 podcastChinese maths podcast episode explaining superpermutations through the Haruhi viewing-order question. | Chinese (Simplified) | Wayback Machine |
| Nov 13, 2018 | SciLogs, Heidelberg Laureate Forum blog | Permutations and TribulationsMaths communicator Katie Steckles explains superpermutations, the 4chan lower bound and Egan's construction. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Nov 12, 2018 | Newser | Solution to Math Problem Begins in Unexpected PlaceNews-digest summary of The Verge's report on the 4chan proof and Egan's bound. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Nov 5, 2018 | Quanta Magazine | Mystery Math Whiz and Novelist Advance Permutation ProblemLong feature on Greg Egan's new upper bound and the anonymous 4chan lower bound, with the history from Ashlock and Tillotson through Johnston and Houston. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 30, 2018 | IFLScience | 4chan Just Solved A Decades-Old Mathematical MysteryPopular-science piece on the anonymous 4chan lower bound and its verification. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 30, 2018 | VICE (Motherboard Deutschland) | Anonymer 4Chan-User hat wohl zufällig ein Jahrzehnte altes Mathe-Rätsel geknacktGerman Motherboard piece on the 4chan superpermutation proof and Egan's upper bound. | German | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 29, 2018 | Some Plane Truths (blog) | An Uncitable Result?Mathematician Adam Sheffer asks how researchers should cite a superpermutation proof posted anonymously on 4chan. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 27, 2018 | ComicBook.com | Infamous Math Problem Finally Gets Solved by Fan in Anime ChatroomPop-culture news item on the Haruhi superpermutation proof. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 27, 2018 | Nazology (ナゾロジー) | 『涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱』がきっかけで数学の難問が解決する可能性Japanese science site explains the minimal superpermutation problem and the Haruhi-inspired lower bound. | Japanese | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 26, 2018 | MuyComputer | La deep web resuelve un enigma de matemáticas tras 25 añosSpanish tech news item on the 4chan superpermutation lower bound. | Spanish | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 26, 2018 | RT | 4chan solved part of math problem puzzling scientists for decadesShort news item on the anonymous 4chan lower bound and Egan's upper bound. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | Anime News Network | Haruhi Helps Crack a 25-Year-Old Mathematical ConundrumAnime news site recounts how the 4chan question about Haruhi viewing orders led to a checked lower bound for superpermutations. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | futurezone.at | Anonymer 4chan-Nutzer löst 25 Jahre altes Mathematik-RätselAustrian tech site reports the 4chan superpermutation proof and its verification by mathematicians. | German | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | GIGAZINE | 「涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱」のおかげで25年解けなかった数学の難問が解決されるかもしれないJapanese report explaining minimal superpermutations and how the 4chan Haruhi thread produced a lower bound. | Japanese | archive.today |
| Oct 25, 2018 | Meduza | Пользователь 4chan объяснял, в каком порядке смотреть аниме-сериал. И, кажется, решил задачу, над которой математики думали 25 летRussian-language explainer on the Haruhi viewing-order question and the 4chan lower bound for superpermutations. | Russian | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | Shazoo | Аноним 4chan опубликовал решение математической проблемыShort Russian games-and-culture news item on the 4chan superpermutation proof. | Russian | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | The News Lens 關鍵評論網 | 在4Chan討論如何播放《涼宮春日》動畫，匿名網民為組合數學難題帶來進展Taiwanese news site explains minimal superpermutations, the 4chan lower bound and Greg Egan's upper bound. | Chinese (Traditional) | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | Xataka | En 2011, un anónimo resolvió este problema matemático, pero los expertos no usan su solución porque lo hizo en un foro de animeSpanish tech site tells the Haruhi story, the 93,884,313,611 bound and why the proof had not entered the literature. | Spanish | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 25, 2018 | ZME Science | Time travel Anime inspires solution to puzzling math problemScience news piece on the 4chan lower bound and its write-up by Pantone, Houston and Vatter. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Oct 24, 2018 | The Verge | An anonymous 4chan post could help solve a 25-year-old math mysteryReports that a 2011 4chan answer about watching The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya in every order gave a lower bound on superpermutation length, now written up by Houston, Pantone and Vatter. | English | Wayback Machine |
| Jan 29, 2018 | Numberphile (YouTube) | Superpermutations - Numberphile videoJames Grime introduces superpermutations and the search for the shortest ones; the description links Robin Houston's 2014 paper. | English | Wayback Machine |