279 = 32 x 31.
279 can be expressed as a prime raised to three consecutive primes: 279 = 32 + 33 + 35.
279 = (27 x 9) + (27 + 9).
279 is the maximum number of 8th powers needed to sum to any number.
279 is a number that cannot be written as a sum of three squares.
Source: Prime Curios!