A mathematician's version of the fine-structure constant
Gloria B. Lubkin · Physics Today · 1971
A theoretical paper that predicts a value for the fine-structure constant α = e2/ℏc in terms only of simple rational powers of integers and π, agrees with the experimental value for α within one-half part per million, that is within one-third standard deviation or less. The present experimental accuracy of α (about 1.5 ppm) corresponds roughly to the thickness of a sheet of paper out of the length of a football field.