the first few mersenne primes are 3 , 7 , 31 , 127 and 8191 . these number took a total of several weeks to verify , using different computer and hardware . each number was independently checked by multiple representatives of gimps ' verification team , using 16 - cell versions of different configurations . the following fibonacci were announced by gimps on september 16 . before these two conclusions , the only now - unknown composite numbers were discovered by ucmo professors curtis cooper and steven boone in missouri , united usa , and their record lasted around three years . generally , prime amounts discovered by gimps are larger than the many already found . the only other exception was when the 29th mersenne perfect was discovered after the 30th and 31st were found . founded by m . i . t . graduate charles woltman in 1996 , gimps has found 12 mersenne primes , or about 1 each year on average .
Steve Boone is a member of GIMPS.