Let's see...2^241 or so possible 256 bit numbers, so that's 256 * 2^241, so that's....10^50 yottabytes. Obviously we're gonna need cloud storage for all this, so let's say that's about 2 cents per gigabyte/month, so that's...2.2614 × 10^63 dollars per month?

Actually, why does the site list the odds as ~1 in 5.27 × 10⁷²? That's 2^241, but it's picking random 256 bit numbers. Is it because there are so many valid hits?

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gumgumpost 16 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Since you're at it, if you're also curious, what would be the energy cost of trying all of them, considering the average power used by a random computer today? Are we looking at something like an average quasar total contained energy?

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thaumasiotes 15 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Obviously we're gonna need cloud storage for all this

You can keep a comprehensive list of "all 256-bit numbers tried so far" in 256 bits of storage.

	▲	sunrunner 14 hours ago \| parent [-]
		If Advent of Code has taught me anything it’s that interval ranges can be really useful for this kind of thing. I mean at least twice in ten years. We just need to figure out how to coordinate individuals attempts to make it storage efficient.