Comment by latexr

> (…) sounds more impressive (…) sounds more impressive (…)

You keep saying that, but my question was why they considered it to be more impressive. I understand an article might want anything to sound more impressive for clicks.

> If this is the case, isn't it quite clear

And no, I don’t agree that taking so long immediately makes it more impressive that a student did it. How many experts are actively searching? And how many students? There are always more of the latter than the former. After long, fortuitous encounters (which anyone can have) become more common.