[omerhj]

Also off-topic, TIFF files use 42 as a magic number in bytes 2 and 3 of the file header:

"The number 42 was chosen for its deep philosophical significance."

[capableweb]

Unlikely to be the source as TIFF was first released 1986 and HHGTTG initial "release" was 1978. Although I'm not sure "the answer" was mentioned in the original radio show.

[omerhj]

Right, the TIFF creators were obviously inspired by the Hitchhikers Guide.

[Tagbert]

Just another case of causal inversion.

“Not again!”