The 23 Enigma

[Elizabeth Antoinette]

1. 42 is a Størmer number.

2. In Japanese culture, the number 42 is considered unlucky because the numerals when pronounced separately — "shi ni" (four two) — sound like the phrase, "unto death".

3. 42 is the number with which God creates the Universe in Kabbalistic tradition.

4. Using the encoding A=1, B=2, C=3, etc., the sum of the codes of the letters in the words "BIG BANG" is 42.