simon@alsys.UUCP (Simon Waddington) (07/17/90)
Hmm, I seem to recall an article on this subject in "Scientific American", probably in one of Martin G's mathematical columns. Unfortunately since it was back in the 70's or 80's and I don't have my collection to hand I can't give you a precise reference just now. However, in the article he explores just such an 'infinite pathway' as you described with the numbers arranged in a spiral. Again long lines of primes appeared which were likened to gold bearing loads in a goldmine. If I recall M.G. speculated on whether the prescence of these loads could prove useful for finding large primes, I think he invited readers with computers to investigate what happens to the density of these primes bearing loads at increasing distances from zero. Now is your chance to find out... there are an infinite number of primes, so are there an infinite number of these lines?