Non-equilibrium thermodynamics is a branch of thermodynamics that deals with systems that are not in thermodynamic equilibrium. While classical thermodynamics primarily focuses on systems at equilibrium where macroscopic properties are well-defined and stable, many real-world processes occur far from equilibrium, involving gradients in temperature, pressure, concentration, or other thermodynamic variables.

Abstract algebra is a branch of mathematics that studies algebraic structures, which are sets equipped with operations that satisfy certain axioms. The main algebraic structures studied in abstract algebra include: 1. **Groups**: A group is a set equipped with a single binary operation that satisfies four properties: closure, associativity, the existence of an identity element, and the existence of inverses. Groups can be finite or infinite and are foundational in many areas of mathematics.

Mathematics-related lists can refer to various collections or categorizations of mathematical concepts, topics, theories, formulas, famous mathematicians, and more. Here are some examples of what mathematics-related lists might include: 1. **Branches of Mathematics**: - Algebra - Geometry - Calculus - Statistics - Number Theory - Combinatorics - Topology - Logic - Discrete Mathematics 2.

In the context of Wikipedia, a "stub" is a term used to describe a page that is considered to be incomplete or underdeveloped. Specifically, a "Mathematics stub" refers to a Wikipedia entry related to mathematics that does not have enough information to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. These stubs are often marked with a template that indicates they are incomplete and encourages users to expand them by adding more content, references, and resources.

On 2024-03-18, Ciro Santilli received an anonymous 1000 Monero donation (worth ~126k USD at the time) to his self-custody wallet, which pushed him over his public plea for 100k USD goal to quit his job for one year.

The transaction ID was 5c6af4df39021f3a4a053ef169c9b397e6d6bf6c7e557d3f08e4e1675d7d3eed to self hist custody wallet with address 47kzoCeRMTohJhADejtsGmGimvQKzNsuST7u2aVhAD1VX5WDbh3v1FPUoJoTK3NTJVUgAM3dWCqC4Tmp9KSQaJi6GGYWgYn. This is a roof generated by his Monero wallet: InProofV2AVFBmFhofH4GoG5NsaDutkdNWRTaEhuFgHpHTkpprRmuZ54B8FdUwFp71gqfp2jJpDUrhB3GCzZ2p8CNbh2TW1Z88ShmYWEwtkZFLccEMw9PhH3vWcMVo9mKaRsH3WgJXqq9.

Since this donation is so huge, it deserves some comments and a bit of a retrospective. The path to this donation has been an interactive one, and it is described below.

After starting the OurBigBook Project, Ciro started the sponsor Ciro Santilli's work on OurBigBook.com page on cirosantilli.com and setup some donation methods to help support the project, and possibly try to capitalize a bit on Ciro Santilli's Stack Overflow contributions.

His sponsors are absolutely crazy amazing people, but Ciro simply could attract a large enough amount of small sponsors to reach life changing amounts under those circumstances. This is partly due to Video "And I am not and never have been 'familiar' scene from The Big Short (2015)".

As such, Ciro came to realize more and more that the best approach would be to reach out to a smaller number of rich people, given that the things he works on niche, but may appeal to a particularly wealthy tranche of the population: STEM people. Other experiences and ideas that contribute to this realization are:

Then, whenever a larger donation would come through and surprise Ciro, he would improve his sponsor page statements. First a private 150 USD by an awesome sponsor. Then the 2023-09 ~810$ Bitcoin one. Finally came the 2023-11-20 100 Monero one. And it was that one that pushed Ciro to start his "100k USD = 1 year campaign".

Finally on Wednesday 2024-03-13, Ciro received an anonymous 10 Monero donation to self-custody wallet. He had clearly stated that one should make a test donation to that wallet before the big one, so 10 Monero felt like it could be the test one. Ciro announced its reception on Sunday March 17, probably having noticed it after the usual weekend check:

Over the next few days, Ciro checked his wallet more often than his previously self imposed once a weekend max, and as expected, he found the big one on a slightly despaired around midnight sleepless night (partly due to parenthood). He was feeling particularly bored and a bit sad with his work life that night. And there it was. 1000 Monero on the wallet. Needless to say, not much sleep was done on that evening!!!

The following days were also tense, with Ciro having a trial by fire on selling large amounts of Monero on the UK, which is not trivial as it had been banned from all major exchanges. But he managed. Further notes on that at: www.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/17arz9f/converting_xmr_to_gbp_in_the_uk/. Ciro also decided to keep about 200 Monero around just for fun as a crazy moonshot.

Another major factor likely Ciro having published his article: Section "Cool data embedded in the Bitcoin blockchain" in 2019. This is something he wrote entirely for fun during an intense 3 week side-time binge in 2019, though some large updates were made later on. It was this article that likely some crypto-dude attention to Ciro Santilli's profile. As of 2024, there is said to be about 20 crypto billionaires, so perhaps there are about 2000 crypto 10 millionaires^[ref], which is the minimum net worth for a donation of 100k USD to be feasible (1% mark). And perhaps a reasonable number of them are just nerds who got rich, and want to improve the world. There are two lessons from this:

Another factor in the donation, Ciro Santilli believes, is that many rich people thing that education is bullshit. Many successful people are neurodiverse and as such, it is only natural that a large number of rich people want to improve our educational system, which tends to be the very epitome of "boring and average normality" which Ciro Santilli so much detests. This can also be seen in people such as:

Announcements:

Amazing reactions from the Monero Reddit community: www.reddit.com/r/Monero/comments/1brryao/ciro_santilli_received_a_1000_xmr_donation_to/These people have some serious trust issues!!! Perhaps not surprising from a privacy coin community. Ciro's Twitter post: twitter.com/cirosantilli/status/1775961945193017790

Physical phenomena refer to observable events or occurrences in the natural world that are governed by the laws of physics. These phenomena can be categorized into various types based on their characteristics and the physical principles that describe them. Examples of physical phenomena include: 1. **Motion**: The movement of objects, including concepts like velocity, acceleration, and momentum. 2. **Forces**: Interactions that cause changes in motion, such as gravitational, electromagnetic, and nuclear forces.

A physical object is anything that has a tangible presence and occupies space. This means that it has specific dimensions (length, width, height), mass, and is made of matter, which can be solid, liquid, or gas. Physical objects can be perceived through our senses, particularly sight and touch.

Quantum non-equilibrium refers to the state of a quantum system that is not in thermodynamic equilibrium. In thermodynamics, systems at equilibrium exhibit well-defined macroscopic properties, such as temperature and pressure, and statistical distributions of their internal states (like the Boltzmann distribution). In contrast, non-equilibrium systems display time-dependent behavior and can have spatial gradients in quantities such as temperature, chemical potential, and density.

Historians of mathematics are scholars who study the development, context, and impact of mathematical ideas throughout history. This field, often referred to as the history of mathematics, involves examining ancient texts, manuscripts, and artifacts to understand how mathematical concepts, techniques, and practices evolved over time and how they influenced various cultures and societies.

The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient Greek analog device, believed to be one of the earliest known mechanical computers. It was discovered in a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Antikythera in 1901 and dates to around 150-100 BCE. The device is made up of a complex system of gears and is thought to have been used to calculate astronomical positions and predict celestial events, such as eclipses and the positions of the sun and moon.

"Gaṇita-sāra-saṅgraha" is a significant historical text in the field of mathematics, particularly in Indian mathematics. Written by the mathematician Bhāskara I in the 7th century CE, it serves as a concise compilation of various mathematical concepts and methods. The title translates to "Essence of Mathematics" or "Compendium of Mathematics." The work is primarily notable for its early treatment of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.

The Hobbes-Wallis controversy refers to a philosophical and scientific debate from the 17th century that centered around the nature of mathematical truths and the existence of absolute space and time. This controversy primarily involved Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, and John Wallis, an English mathematician and theologian. The disagreement arose over several issues related to geometry and the nature of mathematical proofs. Hobbes was critical of the geometric methods employed by Wallis and other mathematicians of the time.

The Meissel–Mertens constant, often denoted as \( M \), is a mathematical constant that arises in number theory, particularly in the study of prime numbers and the distribution of primes.

In geometry, a chamfer is a beveled edge that is created on an object by cutting away a portion of the material at an angle, rather than leaving a sharp corner. This process helps to eliminate sharp edges, which can be a safety concern, and can improve the appearance of the object. Chamfers are commonly used in various fields, including manufacturing, carpentry, and design.

In logic and mathematics, "if and only if" is a biconditional statement that denotes a specific relationship between two propositions. It is typically abbreviated as "iff." A statement of the form "A if and only if B" means that: 1. If A is true, then B must also be true (A → B). 2. If B is true, then A must also be true (B → A).

A "mathemagician" is a term used to describe someone who combines mathematics with magic, often performing mathematical tricks and illusions that create a sense of wonder and surprise. This blend of mathematics and illusion is not only entertaining but can also be educational, making mathematical concepts more accessible and engaging for audiences. The term is often associated with mathematical entertainers like Arthur Benjamin, who is known for his performances that showcase rapid mental calculation and other mathematical feats in a theatrical and engaging manner.

A methodological advisor is a professional who provides guidance and support in the development and application of research methodologies within a specific field or study. Their role often involves: 1. **Designing Research Projects**: Assisting researchers in formulating clear and effective research questions and designing studies that appropriately address those questions. 2. **Selecting Methodologies**: Offering recommendations on suitable research methodologies, such as qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches, depending on the nature of the research.

The Brown measure is a concept from functional analysis and operator theory, specifically relating to the study of non-commutative probability and free probability. It provides a way to analyze certain types of operators, particularly those that are related to random matrices and free random variables. The Brown measure is defined for a normal operator \( T \) on a Hilbert space.