What is the Riemann Hypothesis, and why does it matter? by Prof. Ken Ono

The Riemann hypothesis provides insights into the distribution of prime numbers, stating that the nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function have a “real part” of one-half. A proof of the hypothesis would be world news and fetch a $1 million Millennium Prize. In this lecture, we will discuss the mathematical meaning of the Riemann hypothesis and why it matters. Along the way, we will tell tales of mysteries about prime numbers and highlight new advances. We will conclude with a discussion of recent joint work with mathematicians Michael Griffin of Brigham Young University, Larry Rolen of Vanderbilt, and Don Zagier of the Max Planck Institute, which sheds new light on this famous problem.