Subscribe now

Although the Y2K bug failed to bite, and patents only last 20 years, Basile Anastassakis of Brazil is filing patents around the world on a computer date-handling system that will cope with century rollovers until New Year’s Eve 4999 (WO 99/49389). He suggests a six-digit code in which two digits record the day in Arabic numerals, and one digit records the months up to September, with A, B and C denoting October, November and December. The first two digits of the year are represented by a lower-case letter from the Latin alphabet and the last two digits by Arabic numerals.…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop