Monstrous moonshine

Monstrous Moonshine is a surprising mathematical discovery linking two seemingly unrelated areas: the Monster group, the largest exceptional symmetry group in mathematics, and modular functions, special complex functions with symmetrical properties. Essentially, it reveals that the way the Monster group’s structure appears is deeply connected to patterns in modular functions, which originally appeared in number theory and string theory. This connection was unexpected and suggested a hidden symmetry in mathematics and physics, leading to new insights in both fields. Discovered in the late 20th century, it highlights profound links between symmetry, algebra, and complex analysis.