The Wolfram S Combinator Challenge
The Wolfram Foundation is offering a $20,000 prize for a correct solution to its S Combinator Challenge, a specific and precise problem in theoretical computer science. This initiative appeals directly to Hacker News's technically-minded audience, presenting a significant intellectual puzzle with a financial reward. It's a classic Hacker News story: a difficult technical problem posed by a well-known name, inviting rigorous, proof-based solutions.
The Lowdown
The Wolfram Foundation has launched the Wolfram S Combinator Challenge, offering a $20,000 prize for the first successful and fully proven solution. This challenge is open to individuals and groups worldwide, seeking a definitive and precise resolution to a fundamental problem.
- Prize: A $20,000 (US) award for the first satisfactory solution.
- Eligibility: Open to everyone; submissions must be original work with named contributors.
- Submission Format: Solutions must be presented as technical research papers, suitable for publication, providing a full proof.
- Judging: The prize committee will make final and binding decisions, potentially requesting additional information or clarifying details.
- Intellectual Property: Submitters retain ownership of their work, but grant Wolfram a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to publish the submission.
- Legalities: Winners must provide identity verification, execute tax acknowledgment forms, and sign liability/publicity releases; participants agree to indemnify Wolfram.
Submissions will be accepted until a satisfactory solution is found, emphasizing the need for definite, precise results and arguments to be considered by the prize committee.