UCLA mathematicians have discovered a 13-million-digit Mersenne prime, marking the 46th known Mersenne prime and making them eligible for a $100,000 prize. The discovery was made using a network of 75 computers running Windows XP and verified by a different system. The discussion around this milestone touches on the practical applications of large prime numbers, particularly in encryption, though it is noted that current encryption standards have surpassed the need for such large primes. The conversation also delves into the definition of prime numbers, specifically why 1 is not considered prime, highlighting the importance of maintaining unique factorization in mathematics. Participants express curiosity about the purpose of finding large primes, with some viewing it as a mathematical hobby or a pursuit of exploration and discovery. Overall, the thread combines technical insights with light-hearted banter about mathematics and its implications.