Hypohamiltonian graphs were first studied by Sousselier in Problèmes plaisants et délectables (1963).

[2] He first cited Gaudin, Herz and Rossi,[3] then Busacker and Saaty[4] as pioneers on this topic.

However, the hunt for the smallest planar hypohamiltonian graph continues.

[5] The first candidate answer was provided in 1976 by Carsten Thomassen, who exhibited a 105-vertices construction, the 105-Thomassen graph.

[9][10] In their paper, Wiener and Araya conjectured their graph to be optimal arguing that its order (42) appears to be the answer to The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a Douglas Adams novel.