Math and Computer Science in the News Math and Computer Science in the News Solving complex physics problems at lightning speed From 20 years to an hour! That’s improvement! A mathematical framework enables accurate characterization of shapes Describing shapes, a mathematical approach. A Mathematician Has Finally Solved the Infamous Goat Problem Have a problem with your goat? Read on! Data-driven rating system makes it easier to select sports teams Just in time for the Super Bowl! Which team will you pick? COVID-19 'super-spreading' events play outsized role in overall disease transmission What makes a “super spreader”? There is math in that. Studying abstract mathematical equations using tangible surfaces Arithmetic Geometry! What is that? Mathematician suggests new approach to cooperative game Cooperative games, math can help with them. 'Fairmandering' draws fair districts using data science Is it possible to draw fair electoral districts? Math can help make the answer “yes”. The ever-elusive riddle: What's the best way to cut Christmas cookies? Want help cutting Christmas cookies? Math can help! A mathematical model facilitates inventory management in the food supply chain Mathematics helping get fresh food to the table! 'Universal law of touch' will enable new advances in virtual reality Seismic waves and the sense of touch, how are they related? Study uses mathematical modeling to identify an optimal school return approach How many days do you really need to spend in school? Faster COVID-19 testing with simple algebraic equations We had to include something about Covid, didn’t we? Scientists solve 90-year-old geometry problem Sometimes it takes a while, and some brute computer power! Ecologists confirm Alan Turing's theory for Australian fairy circles Have you heard about Alan Turing and Australian fairy circles? Read on. When does a second COVID surge end? Look at the maths Not more Covid! How can math help us understand? New mathematical tool can select the best sensors for the job Preventing air crashes through math. How does that work? The impact of human mobility on disease spread Why do we restrict travel in a pandemic? New mathematical method shows how climate change led to fall of ancient civilization Can climate change bring down a civilization? It has in the past! Virtual tourism could offer new opportunities for travel industry, travelers Virtual tourism, how does that work? The mathematical values of Linear A fraction signs Can traditional and computational methods crack an ancient number system? To cook a perfect steak, use math Of course math makes cooking better! What's the Better Way to Cut a Sandwich? Something to think about when preparing a picnic? Mathematicians reveal the science behind figure skating It is not just the figure eights! Artificial intelligence makes blurry faces look more than 60 times sharper Want clearer pictures? Bring in the AI. Video: The real risks of a pandemic Explaining some of the risks during a pandemic. How to break new records in the 200 meters Want faster sprint records? Redesign the track! Matheminecraft: Where math and Minecraft meet Eulerian cycles with disappearing bridges, what could be more fun? This Guy Says He Solved the Most Controversial Open Problem in Math Mathematical proof needs to convince others, not as easy as you might think! The strategy against COVID-19 spreading depends on mathematical modeling—but how? You’ve heard a lot about it, but how can Math help in a pandemic? Math professor and students take 'random walk' together Something to consider after we can get back outside in a group. Decrypting cryptocurrencies Just what is Cryptocurrency? Researchers rank 'smartest' schools of fish when it comes to travel formations Are fish masters of mathematics? Maybe so... Researcher finds a mathematical pattern in human conflict using data science Do you think nothing good comes from video games? Think again! 10,000 times faster calculations of many-body quantum dynamics possible As if calculations weren’t fast enough already! How hard is it to scramble Rubik's Cube? It has been around for 40 years, have you solved yours? Katherine Johnson’s Math Will Steer NASA Back to the Moon We said goodbye to a legend last week, but Katherine Johnson’s impact will endure! Game theory expert expands method to incorporate new categories Economics as a game? Sure, just look at this! Mathematician proposes method to simplify the mathematical model of substance transfer through a cell wall “Solving” some unsolvable equations. Here’s how. Pressure-Sensitive Fibers Untangle the Math Behind Knots Using some neat science to help with knot theory… Hermit crabs' lesson on wealth inequality What can we learn about wealth inequality from hermit crabs? Apparently a lot! The 10 Biggest Math Breakthroughs of 2019 Do these 10 match your 10 biggest math breakthroughs of last year? From election upsets to climate chaos, rolling the dice helps us appreciate the odds What are the odds? Simply calculated, but what do they mean? Maths is cool too! Some fun facts on mathematics Just some fun things in math. Neutrinos Lead to Unexpected Discovery in Basic Math Neutrinos helping with “basic” math? Really? Mathematician develops model to control spread of aquatic invasive species Helping to save the planet with Math! Brains of girls and boys are similar, producing equal math ability Think boy’s brains are more mathematical? Think again! Information theory as a forensics tool for investigating climate mysteries So there were temperature spikes in the ice ages, how does that help us now? The Biggest Quantum Breakthrough Yet—Literally As quantum goes, this is huge! The Age-Old Sunflower Conjecture May Soon Be Solved As winter approaches, something sunny to think about. Surviving a zombie apocalypse using mathematics Even though you got past Oct. 31 this year, it’s not too early to prepare for next year. Where to park your car, according to math Just what is the best spot in a parking lot? Mathematicians Are So Close to Cracking This 82-Year-Old Riddle Maybe you are “the one” to crack this! Kurt G—del: A postcard from Vienna A 20th century mathematician worth knowing about. Expanding the scale of dangerous weather prediction Is better severe weather forecasting possible? Take a look. The ever-winning lottery ticket: Mathematicians solve a dusty mystery Psst - I’ve got a sure thing for you, interested? Strange warping geometry helps to push scientific boundaries Playing around in curves space – shades of M.C. Escher. People can see beauty in complex mathematics, study shows Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder… Proof Without Words - The sum of squares Nothing to say! Two Mathematicians Just Solved a Decades-Old Math Riddle — and Possibly the Meaning of Life The answer is 42… A mathematical proof isn't just an intellectual exercise Why prove anything? Read this! Calculus Reveals the Universe—and Can Make a Tuna Melt Sandwich (A new book that can make you love calculus) Why an interesting book about Math? Why not? Mathematics of scale: Big, small and everything in between What do your lungs, lakes in Alaska, and the coastline of Britain have in common? More than you might at first think. New automated biological-sample analysis systems to accelerate disease detection Microfluidics meets M.C. Escher The Best Way for a Mouse to Escape a Cat, According to Math Need a reason not to teach Math to mice? Look here! The Abel Prize 2019 They are just soap bubbles you say? There is so much more going on. The Mathematics of (Hacking) Passwords How good is good enough when it comes to passwords? New automated biological-sample analysis systems to accelerate disease detection Microfluidics meets M.C. Escher We've found a quicker way to multiply really big numbers A short-cut in multiplying numbers! Exciting but… A Classical Math Problem Gets Pulled Into Self-Driving Cars Sum of squares driving a car? Truer than you think. Bristol mathematician cracks Diophantine puzzle 33 as the sum of three cubes? Easy you say. Famous 'sandpile model' shown to move like a traveling sand dune Sand piles, fractals, and predicting earthquakes! Using computers to crack open centuries-old mathematical puzzles Collaboration is key! Here’s why. Data reveals the value of an assist in basketball Mathematics in March Madness! A Single Cell Hints at a Solution to the Biggest Problem in Computer Science An organic solution to the Traveling Salesman Problem? Mathematicians report a way to optimize post-stroke therapy Mathematics for better stroke recovery. Neat. Bees can do basic arithmetic A whole new meaning to Math Bees! Big data is being reshaped thanks to 100-year-old ideas about geometry Geometry helps “see” big data! The Math Whiz Behind the Hoberman Sphere Takes up Origami Really neat geometry. Follow the link about Mercedez-Benz stadium for some more neat geometry. Frog choruses inspire wireless sensor networks Frogs as inspiration for networks. How does that work? Static electricity could charge our electronics Can you charge your cell phone with static electricity? Maybe. Mathematician calculates wave velocity for post-stroke therapy Using Math for Post-Stroke therapy. Neat! A Network Theorist Seeks “Universal Laws” of Success Success defined mathematically? Here’s one attempt. Mathematical model offers new strategies for urban burglary prevention Using Math to prevent crime! A Math Function Describes How Whole Societies Remember—and Forget Can you model memory loss with Math? Of course you can, take a look! Mobius kaleidocycles: Sensational structures with potential applications A meeting of Science, Math, and Art you say! Tell me more. Why is this line so long? How do you pick which line to stand in? Mathematics meets biology to uncover unexpected biorhythms A different biological cycle from the 24 hour ones! Do the math! Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss: Who was Germany's 'Prince of Mathematicians'? Think no child can do number theory? Think again! In Search of God’s Mathematical Perfect Proofs What is a “perfect mathematical proof”? Does a book of them exist? Mega Millions, Powerball prizes come down to math, long odds Win Mega Millions, or any lottery. What are the odds? Ada Lovelace Day: We should never forget the first computer programmer A computer programmer who lived in the 1800’s! What’s that you say? Mathematics as thought Mathematical ideas, although beautiful, get little attention. Why is that? Tell Us 5 Things About Your Book: The Benefits and Moral Quandaries of a World Run by Code In an increasingly code driven world, where is the humanity? Solving real-world problems Computational Bayesian Statistics, what’s that you say? Burning Man’s Mathematical Underbelly An art festival set out in a complex plane, “imaginary” you might say, but take a look. The weird world of one-sided objects Beyond the Möbius strip, what is out there? The power of logic: How math can help you win your next argument Want to win arguments? Math has your answer. Mathematicians solve age-old spaghetti mystery That’s how the spaghetti snaps! Katherine Johnson, Trailblazing NASA Mathematician, Celebrates 100 Trips around the Sun A true leader turns 100. A mathematician has solved a 50-year-old Beatles mystery Paul or John? A mathematician has the answer. Are computers better than people at predicting who will commit another crime? Crime predicting computers? Maybe, maybe not. Network theory links behavioral information flow with contained epidemic outbreaks Containing epidemics with math? How does that work? Novel method for investigating pore geometry in rocks Geometry can help understand the permeability of rocks! Really? Maria Agnesi, the Greatest Female Mathematician You've Never Heard of You don’t know Maria Agnesi? You should. New software, HyperTools, transforms complex data into visualizable shapes Complex and large data sets have geometrical structure, who knew? Maths experts stunned as they crack a pattern for prime numbers Prime pattern – how can that be? How the power of mathematics can help assess lung function You have a lung problem, Math can help with that! Swirling liquids work similarly to bitcoin Securing your bitcoins: as easy as stirring your coffee! No more water stains – we found a new way to control evaporation using maths Spotty glasses may become a thing of the past! Why Do Cracking Knuckles Make That Noise? You Might Need a Calculator There's math behind cracking knuckles? “Grand Unified Theory of Math” Nets Abel Prize Canadian Robert Langland wins Abel Prize Privacy and Counterfeit Coins Fake coins and lawyers. What’s that you say? The genius at Guinness and his statistical legacy Beer brewing contributes to statistics! Believe it! Math can predict how cancer cells evolve Can Math lead to a Cancer cure? Mathematicians invent tool to judge when voting maps have been unfairly drawn What area should a voter be in? Why all children must learn their times tables — and fun ways to teach them Times Tables – how passé! Or are they? How mathematics is helping to fight cancer Study Math then fight cancer? The Bridge Wobbles. So Do You. That’s When the Trouble Starts. What do you think of when the footbridge you are on starts to vibrate? A Mathematical Theory Says The Perfect Age To Get Married is 26 – Here’s Why When should you get married? Cracking the Brain's Enigma Code Language patterns in the brain may lead to brain-controlled prosthetics. The Hidden Depth in Math’s Simple Puzzles Simple puzzles and periodic billiards paths. Using math to investigate possibility of time travel Time travel, maybe more possible than you think. Mathematicians work to expand their new pictorial mathematical language into other areas A picture is worth…? Maths for midges that pull 10g Capable of handling higher g-forces than fighter pilots! Largest prime number ever found has over 23 million digits How big is big? The newest largest prime number known is… The ‘Frequent Flier’ Program That Grounded a Hospital’s Soaring Costs CS modelling in health care delivery. Fractions: Where It All Goes Wrong Do you have trouble with fractions? It seems that you are not alone, a significant fraction of people struggle with them. The Bridge Wobbles. So Do You. That’s When the Trouble Starts. When is the bounce in a footbridge something to worry about? Quantum simulators wield control over more than 50 qubits, setting new record Yet another step closer to Quantum control? Who Invented ‘Zero’? Zero, Nil, Zilch, whatever you call it, 0 is not “nothing”. Was it always known? New software can verify someone's identity by their DNA in minutes DNA analysis as fast as on TV show? It could be possible. How Does Geometry Explain the Phases of the Moon? Geometry in the phases of the moon? Naturally there is!! The Universe According to Emmy Noether Hilbert and Klein kew her, maybe we all should! This is the lightest robot that can fly, swim and take off from water Robots that fly and swim. How big are those? Scientists see order in complex patterns of river deltas Understanding river deltas through mathematics Math Champion Wins With Answer About Pecking Chicks Can you answer a question about 100 pecking chicks in a second? What is the probability? 'Human computer’ Katherine Johnson opens Nasa research facility named in her honour Overdue recognition for a great, modern-day mathematician. The math of doughnuts: 'Moonshine' sheds light on elliptic curves Doughnuts, ‘Moonshine’, and elliptic curves! An unlikely trio you say, but can they combine “deliciously”? There are only 15 possible pentagonal tiles, research proves Tiling your bedroom with pentagons? How many ways can you do that? The Media Ha A Probability Problem What is the probability and what does it mean? High-dimensional quantum encryption performed in real-world city conditions for first time Quantum Encryption may be closer than you think! Mathematical mystery of ancient Babylonian clay tablet solved So you think Trigonometry is a new thing! How the Google-Suite Can Enhance Open-Ended Math Exploration Open-Ended Math Explorations With Google. Using math to predict how tumours grow can make treatment more precise and effective Using math to predict how tumours grow can make treatment more precise and effective. Pentagon Tiling Proof Solves Century Old Math Problem We finally understand all the ways that the plane can be tiled using convex polygons. Computer chip mimics human brain, with light beams for neurons Machines may one day think just like the human brain How to Use Math to Fly Rockets to Space This math really is rocket science, but it’s not hard to follow. Math to the rescue: Students use equations to help peers safely cross the street Winnipeg students are using quadratic equations in an attempt to win a Tech company's contest. Playing the numbers game: 21st Century law will be based on math and data analytics Many legal cases are won with the help of mathematicians. A whole new world: Why Boston public schools are adopting a different map Looking at a map of the world, you'd be forgiven for thinking Greenland is the same size as Africa or that Alaska is bigger than Mexico. Simple math is why Elon Musk’s companies keep doing what others don’t even consider possible Optimization of well known equations had surprisingly not been attempted before on this scale, before Musk arrived. Machine learning models for drug discovery IBM's new machine learning models help find new drugs for disease treatment. An algorithm that knows when you'll get bored with your favourite mobile game How long will it take for users to stop playing the latest smartphone games? Fractal patterns in nature and art are aesthetically pleasing and stress-reducing Fractals are a crucial factor when it comes to the visual appeal of art. Steve Jobs' liver - and the quest for a better organ algorithm Algorithms can make organ transplants more efficient. Mathematician breaks down how to defend against quantum computing attacks Quantum computing will change how we handle data and we, as a society, are going to have to make some important decisions about how to prepare for it. Fractal Secrets of Rorschach's Framed Ink Blots Revealed The math behind this famous psychological test Canadian mathematicians create Sims-like program to save bees Our honeybees are in trouble. A computer program can help. Here's the best way to shuffle a pack of cards - with a little help from some maths Truly randomize a deck of cards with this mathematical shuffle! Mathematical model predicts how we wait in line, traffic Should we really wait in the shortest line in traffic? An Algorithm is Now Helping Set Bail in New Jersey Criminal history is being used to eliminate bias in bail amounts. How to escape a maze - according to maths How can mathematical theory and algorithms generate and solve mazes? I teach high-school math. Is my work pointless? "One thing I am certain of is that being a mathematician is the best profession in the world." Can Neuroscience Understand Donkey Kong, Let Alone a Brain? Can a computer chip be studied like a brain? Computer Science Technique Helps Astronomers Explore the Universe Deep learning used to find massive objects in space! Get Ready to Love Math With This Sweet VR Calculator Explore mathematical theorems and scenarios in an interactive virtual reality environment! Algorithm mimics evolution to aid disaster recovery Algorithm balances short-term and long-term goals to distribute resources in disaster recovery. How the brain recognizes faces Can machines learn to recognize human faces? A Mere Algorithm Could Make NYC Taxis Four Times More Efficient Algorithms can optimize the journey for NYC Taxis Mathematicians bring ocean to life for Disney's Moana Mathematics make your favourite animated movies more lifelike! Magic numbers: can math equations be beautiful? Is mathematics a beautiful expression of reality? Mathematics used to study pine beetle control methods Mathematics can be used to control the spread of a forest pest. Computer-brain implant helps patient with ALS to communicate A successful test allows patient to interface with the world. Hair-hunting computer benefits from deep learning Similar algorithms might one day be used to identify skin cancer or improve self-driving cars. The secret to a perfect cup of coffee could be math Irish researchers aim to find the formula for the smoothest, most predictable, most efficient brew. This is the Math Behind Super Mario "Math is everything when it comes to games." New research uses simple math to link CO2 emissions, vanishing Arctic sea ice Each tonne that increases the atmosphere’s CO2 load costs the Arctic another three square metres of ice. Math becomes biology's magic number Math brings new insight into medicine. Mathematics the new weapon against extreme bushfires Mathematics help firefighters extinguish fires! How maths can get you locked up Are algorithms that assess the "risk score" of a criminal fair justice? Quantum computing will cripple encryption methods within decade, says agency chief warns Quantum Computing can cripple modern mathematical encryption methods. Researchers restore first-ever computer music recording "It was a beautiful moment when we first heard the true sound of Turing's computer ..." Former teacher uses math skills to find fastest checkout line Is the express checkout line the fastest choice? How the Mathematics of Algebraic Topology Is Revolutionizing Brain Science Nobody understands the brain’s wiring diagram, but the tools of algebraic topology are beginning to tease it apart. Corvallis sculptor fuses art and math Math inspires new forms of art. Algorithms and Blues: Putting a Google-written song to the test Google’s computers wrote a song. In the hands of a professional musician, does the tune have potential? Nature inspires applied math project that seeks to improve traffic flow Can ants help optimize your commute time? Solving the Mathematical Puzzle of the Artichoke What mathematical properties does an artichoke have? How Math Helps Fight Epidemics like Zika Researchers employ mathematical and statistical modeling to battle infectious diseases. “Super Mario Brothers” is hard Analysis shows popular video game is among the hardest problems in the “complexity class” PSPACE. Two-hundred terabyte maths proof is largest ever A computer cracks the Boolean Pythagorean triples problem – but is it really maths? New method of producing random numbers could improve cybersecurity A new method for producing truly random numbers could be used to encrypt data, make electronic voting more secure, conduct statistically significant polls and more accurately simulate complex systems such as Earth’s climates. Google Releases New Tools to Help Computers Learn English Google Releases New Tools to Help Computers Learn English The tricks to cutting cake fairly Meet Parsey McParseface, Google’s new tool for parsing spoken sentences into their grammatical parts. Mathematician finds his 'new' solution to Poisson formula problem buried in 1959 paper Yves Meyer was shocked to discover that another mathematician had formulated the exact same proof to solve the same problem that Meyer had been working on, though the solution had remained deeply buried and completely forgotten. The Long Search for the Value of Pi The search for the accurate value of pi led not only to more accuracy, but also to the development of new concepts and techniques, such as limits and iterative algorithms, which then became fundamental to new areas of mathematics. Mathematicians provide solution to 78 year old mystery An international team of researchers have developed a solution to a riddle related to “adaptation energy” that has puzzled scientists for almost 80 years. Hard mathematical problems as basis for new cryptographic techniques New cryptographic algorithms have been created that are based on particularly hard mathematical problems. They would be virtually unbreakable, say investigators. Mathematicians Have Discovered a Prime Conspiracy Prime numbers, it seems, have decided preferences about the final digits of the primes that immediately follow them. AI crossword-solving application could make machines better at understanding language A web-based machine language system solves crossword puzzles far better than commercially-available products, and may help machines better understand language. This MIT algorithm predicts 'dangerous' waves The ocean can be cruel and unforgiving. To help give sailors some advanced warning of "dangerous" rogue waves computer scientists have created a new algorithm to predict swells. Drawing Human Faces with Mathematics Mathematics can be a powerful tool to create works of art. AI Is Transforming Google Search. The Rest of the Web Is Next If AI is the future of Google Search, it's the future of so much more. Math reveals unseen worlds of Star Wars Using a new computer program, researchers offer unusual insight into the universe of Star Wars, which includes more than 20,000 characters spread among 640 communities over a period of 36,000 years. Software Detects CEO Emotions, Predicts Financial Performance Computer programs that scan facial expressions have been used to detect whether people respond positively to commercials or whether hospital patients are in pain. Can they also read a CEO’s mind? Math whizzes of ancient Babylon figured out forerunner of calculus Ancient Babylonian astronomers used sophisticated geometric methods foreshadowing calculus to predict the positions of celestial bodies. MIT’s New Algorithms Could Stop Catastrophic Drone Crashes Autonomous drones often have to fly through treacherous terrain and unexpected obstacles. MIT thinks it can help make it more likely that you’ll receive your drone delivery in good condition. This Futuristic Armbad Lets You Control Your Computer Like Magic Rather than using special cameras that sense motion and depth, a startup company's armband detects a wearer's movement and translates them into computer controls. Better Gut Microbiome Census through Computing Microbes that live in all of us effect digestion, obesity, mood, and a few can cause serious illness. Computer scientists have helped provide more complete information about what is inside our bodies. Swimming with Algorithms: Can Software Predict the Next Hollywood Hit Based on the Script Alone? It’s hard to tell which movies are going to be good before they are made, and if you’ve ever seen a bad movie you’ll know that sometimes Hollywood gets it wrong. If this algorithm works, you might never have to sit through a three hour snooze-fest again. New Prime Number Discovered at 22 Million Digits A new prime number has been discovered – and it’s the biggest one known by almost five million digits. ‘Outsiders’ Crack 50-Year-Old Math Problem Three computer scientists have solved a problem central to a dozen far-flung mathematical fields Mathmatical proof for hot hand shooting in basketball Perhaps the notion of a lucky streak can be explained by mathematics. Programmable Plants: Synthetic biologists pave way for genetic circuits Taking genetic engineering to the next level, researchers are creating modular, programmable genetic circuits that control specific plant functions. Theorists Draw Closer to Perfect Coloring A mathematician needed to seat 120 wedding guests, some of whom did not get along, at a dozen or so conflict-free tables. The Importance of Recreational Math Recreational mathematics is all about having fun with mathematical puzzles, games, and problems; sometimes, these games can be a source of new, publishable discoveries. Complex problem made simple sends computer scientists wild Normally a sedate bunch, theoretical computer scientists are humming with excitement. Scientists design full-scale architecture for quantum computer in silicon Quantum computers will far exceed our super computers of today; that is, if one is ever built, but a team in Australia is getting us one step closer. Equation Works Out Kinks In Knot Math Engineers devise experiments that teach them about knots, with applications in the medical field and beyond. A New Map Traces the Limits of Computation A major advance reveals deep connections between the classes of problems that computers can and can't possibly do. How to Create Art With Mathematics Can you generate aesthetically pleasing, symmetrical curves with two numbers and a simple mathematical function? Your next boss: A computer algorithm? Computers are beginning to learn — on their own. Maths whizz solves a master's riddle An online collaboration between mathematicians solves 80-year-old problem. The biggest mystery in mathematics: Shinichi Mochizuki and the impenetrable proof If a mathematician solves a problem, but the proof is not easily understood, has the problem really been solved? The search for a thinking machine Is human level intelligence attainable by 2050? The Math Of Star Trek: How Trying To Solve Fermat's Last Theorem Revolutionized Mathematics Math’s final frontier is extended by searching for answers to a timeless problem. How games, social media are changing the way people get hired Powerful algorithms will now decide whether you hear “You’re hired” or “You’re fired”. Impossible Wallpaper and Mystery Curves: Exploring Symmetry in Mathematics and Art Fusing mathematical and artistic creativity generates fascinating designs. Quantum 'spookiness' passes toughest test yet Experiment plugs loopholes in previous demonstrations of 'action at a distance', against Einstein's objections — and could make data encryption safer. John Horton Conway: the world’s most charismatic mathematician John Horton Conway is a cross between Archimedes, Mick Jagger and Salvador Dalí. Is Translation an Art or a Math Problem? Mathematicians come together to create a universal translator. Artificial intelligence, human brain to merge in 2030s, says futurist Kurzweil Will we be able to back up our brains using a computer within 15 years? Voting machine password hacks as easy as "abcde", details Virginia state report Insecure voting machines were used in Virginia for 12 years! When the Mona Lisa is NP-Hard Connecting the dots is harder then it looks. Using Minecraft to unboggle the robot mind Researchers use a virtual world to design robots that will be more helpful in the real world. Math explains why beating Tetris is practically impossible This is not a game that you can win. The $23m house built by mathematics Toronto home that doubles as a concert venue was designed by professor with 'science of curves' Google develops computer program capable of learning tasks independently Working towards developing a computer program that can learn like a human How old do I look? Microsoft's face-reading app guesses with a single photo Microsoft released a new demo and over 35000 people tried it out in the first few hours. When is Cheryl's birthday? Singapore math question for kids stumps internet A math question to test logic skills was trending recently and causing quite a stir. Pagerank Algorithm Reveals World's All-Time Top Soccer Team The stats explain who ranks where in soccer history. If an Algorithm Wrote This, How Would You Even Know? Can you tell the difference between a human writer and a computer? How Data And A Good Algorithm Can Help Predict Where Fires Will Start An algorithm that can remove the unpredictability from firefighting. Math Explains Why Hipsters All Look the Same Describing hipsters before it was cool. Where's Waldo? Algorithm Helps You Find Him The probability of finding Waldo just got a lot better. Pi Day of the Century It was the most delicious day of the last one hundred years. Can Math Help You Fall in Love? Mathematical models explain how to find an ideal mate and the secret to maintaining a healthy relationship. MIT Cracks Algorithm for Robot Object Recognition: Will It Usher in Era of Household Robots? Improvement in the recognition of artificial intelligence is leading society towards "robot maids”. Wandering in the heavens: how mathematics explains Saturn’s rings Astronomy, math and Newton's laws are combined to explain the discovery of Saturn's famous rings. How computer science can help art historians Computers can detect painting techniques invisible to the human eye. The math of organ donation: Kidneys are an NP-hard problem Integer programming is used to find a match. Insightful mathematics for an optimal run Math indicates the ideal way a runner can preserve energy. Poker program Cepheus is unbeatable, claim scientists A Canadian poker program just can't lose. Exposing pokies using simple mathematics Australian researchers are using mathematics to help gambling addicts How Google "Translates" Pictures Into Words Using Vector Space Mathematics An algorithm uses vector combinations to write picture captions. Magic tricks created using artificial intelligence for the first time A computer program generates mind reading card tricks for magicians. Solving quadratics in pictures Around 3000 years ago, Babylonians already knew about versions of the famous formula for solving quadratic equations. How Pixar Uses Math to Make Characters Look Perfect The amount of geometry used to make 3D animations might surprise you. Mathematical model tackles 'Game of Thrones' predictions Predict who will make it out alive! How to Solve the Famous Birthday Problem What are the chances two players on the same soccer team share a birthday? How Facebook is Changing the Way Its Users Consume Journalism Algorithms play a crucial role in determining what news we read online. Dissecting Gordon's odds of scoring A critical decision was made with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in the last game of baseball's World Series. Do statistics support the decision? The Mathematics of Herding Sheep Sheepdogs think algorithmically. These dog algorithms could be useful in controlling crowds and cleaning up the environment. Computers 1000 times faster? Quick-change materials break silicon speed limit for computers Faster, smaller, greener computers could be made possible by replacing silicon with materials that can switch back and forth between different electrical states. Combining math and music to open new possibilities Math can be found everywhere we look, but now we are finding it in every sound we hear. New algorithm could help 'cheetah' robot outrun humans soon Earth's fastest land animal is mimicked using an algorithm to program its legs. Mathematics key to eating pizzas The curvature of a slice of pizza can ensure toppings won't end up on the floor. Maryam Mirzakhani becomes 1st woman to win Fields Medal History-making professor says math is fun -- "it's like solving a puzzle or connecting the dots in a detective case." Balancing Bike-Sharing Stations Has Become a Serious Scientific Endeavor Mathematicians and computer scientists are trying to determine how to shuffle bikes among stations so that one is always available when needed. 'Biggest price in science' announced More than three million dollars awarded for groundbreaking work. Google Elephant system made by B.C. man helps fight poaching A tech-savvy student has created a 'vital conservation tool'. Of dinosaurs and mathematics Mathematical data convinced palaeontologists to reclassify the origin of a dinosaur bone. Turing test passed by computer Is a recent achievement a historic milestone in the history of artificial intelligence? World Cup Prediction Mathematics Explained Are you using statistical analysis to predict the eventual winner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup? Mathematicians put their own spin on the search for rare prime numbers A new approach to the ongoing search for the largest prime numbers. Computer maps 21 distinct emotional expressions -- even 'happily disgusted' Researchers have found a way for computers to recognize 21 different facial expressions. A new mathematics for experimental science Applied mathematics, computer science and scientific experiments are being combined to produce revolutionary methods. "Electronic Skin" Equipped with Memory Scientists have created a wearable device as thin as a tattoo that can store data and deliver medicine. Knowledge transfer between computers: Computers teach each other Pac-Man Computers teach each other how to play the classic game Pac-Man. NHL teams ready to embrace advanced statistics Hockey teams hope to gain an edge by keeping secret statistics. Mathematicians calculate that there are 177 147 ways to knot a tie Mathematicians have counted how many ways there are to knot a tie and you won't believe how many there are! Model predicts growth, death of membership-based websites Social networks are popular, but do they have a limited lifespan? In the End, It All Adds Up to – 1/12 What if all time and infinity added up to a negative number....? Traffic Jams Make Cities Splinter into Subcenters A new model explains the evolution of cities and their suburbs. The Dawn of the Age of Artificial Intelligence The number of thinking machines is growing exponentially. Ancient Times Table Hidden in Chinese Bamboo Strips The 2,300-year-old matrix is the world's oldest decimal multiplication table. Canuck tech whiz nabs two sci-tech Academy Awards Software engineer with uWaterloo mathematics degree recognized for creating movie magic. Simple Mathematical Formula Describes Human Struggles Would you believe that a broad range of human struggles can be understood using a mathematical formula? BYU's smart object recognition algorithm doesn't need humans. Highly accurate system learns to decipher images on its own. How math helps stop oil spills and plane crashes Using math to make difficult decisions about risk. Some Polynesian islanders combined binary and decimal math A hybrid system combines the compactness of base 10 with the simplicity of the two-digit base 2. Bringing mathematical modelling into the operating room A University of Waterloo PhD student is helping develop math algorithms being used by surgeons working on infants. How statistics can help cure cancer Some of the best minds in medical research are working to understand one of the world’s biggest killers. They're not all doctors, chemists, and biologists. Physical finance What's a theoretical physicist doing with mathematics in the financial world? CT and 3-D Printers Used to Recreate Dinosaur Fossils Just like Gutenberg's printing press opened the world of books to the public, digital datasets and 3-D prints of fossils may now be distributed more broadly. A vexing math problem finds an elegant solution Professor and graduate student provide a geometric solution to the von Neumann-Day problem. Computer Searches Web 24/7 to Analyze Images and Teach Itself Common Sense A computer program is doing its best to understand millions of images from the internet, gathering common sense on a massive scale. The Coach Who Never Punts A high school coach is using statistics to change the way football is played. CSIRO software monitors Twitter to guide emergency services to fires Breakthrough innovation uses eyewitness accounts on social media to map and respond to new outbreaks. Are you ready to retire? Mathematical models estimate the value of pension plans Using a mathematical model and partial differential equations to find your opportune retirement age. Tying Light In Knots Knot theory may prove to be useful in unraveling the mysteries of light. Saving digital art from an early death at the ZKM museum A German museum's quest to save art created using obsolete technologies. Quantum Computers: Trust Is Good, Proof Is Better Can we just assume that quantum computers will always give us correct outputs? How can we test their reliability? The maths that saw the US shutdown coming Can a new mathematical model predict the endgame of empires? Accurate Computer Model of RNA Tetraloop Researchers develop a computational model that helps scientists to visualize RNA structures and speed up experiments. What are Maxwell's Equations? How a Scottish physicist formulated the equations that showed us how to electrify the world. Meet the new generation of robots. They're almost human. Robots capable of social interaction and experiential learning are being built and studied around the world. Plants Perform Molecular Mathematics Can your violet do arithmetic? Computer program replicates artist sketches Disney research has computers replicating abstract portraits. Statistics and Magnetic Socks Shape Modern Tae Kwon Do Can statistics reshape our understanding of this martial art? Closing the gap between primes Online collaborators are continually improving a celebrated recent result about twin primes. Tasty use of 3D printing Will Nasa be successful in printing food for its astronauts? One million dollar prize Big money is at stake in the search for the solution to a problem harder than proving Fermat's Last Theorem. Cells as living calculators Engineers used bacterial cells to compute logarithms, divide and take square roots. Internet content is looking for you Search engines can use much more than what you type in the box. Math to combat natural catastrophes Mathematical models can help prepare authorities for earthquakes and tsunamis. 'Pride and Prejudice' as a game theory textbook Did Jane Austin use game theory in her 1800s classic novel long before its military applications in the Cold War? Predicting box office success The "reigning mad scientist of Hollywood" uses statistics to analyze film scripts and calculate how likely a movie will be a hit. Is mathematics discovered or invented? Is mathematics discovered or invented? And the 2013 Abel Prize goes to ... Belgian Pierre Deligne, who proved a deep conjecture about algebra and geometry. Why wasn't there a class like this when I was an undergraduate? The mathematics of card tricks Opening Day - Play Ball Using mathematical models to predict the outcome of the Major League Baseball season The American Supreme Court should learn statistics. "the act of citing statistical factoids is not the same thing as drawing sound inferences from them" Astronomy Picture of the Day Astronomy needs math right? Not what you would expect. Warm weather is coming Really warm weather. A different use for a hockey stick. Gender Bias in Mathematics Thought provoking and bluntly expressed. And very important. The Wondrous Mathematics of Winter Winter is the Platonist’s season. A new Mersenne prime Big. Really big. On this day in 1897 In the Indiana General Assembly a bill was introduced to legislate the value of pi. AlgoRythmics This is different. Sorting algorithms in folk dance. Staying on key Just look at the picture – a Bengalese Finch with headphones. Mathematics and what it means to be human Few intoxicants are as dangerous to a mathematician as an audience of laypeople willingly listening to a math lecture. The International Year of Statistics So exactly what is statistics and why do I care? The Mathematics of Planet earth Chaos in the solar system. Eradicating disease. Aging the earth. And so much more. Newton, the Man 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … What, precisely, does a field of sunflowers have to do with mathematics and the centenary of Alan Turing's birth? Isaac Newton, a posthumous child bom with no father on Christmas Day, 1642, was the last wonderchild to whom the Magi could do sincere and appropriate homage. Should Alice marry Bob? And what does this have to do with Math class? Ancient air-conditioning After 4000 years, we might understand why mediterranean courtyards are cool An American election means polls everyday When do the polls get it right? One problem, six years … … and it was computer assisted using proof, not numeric computation. The Mighty Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of "few can match the depths of her perverse and unmerited obscurity" As Simple as abc If Mochizuki’s proof is correct, it will be one of the most astounding achievements of mathematics of the twenty-first century. Mathematics and Democracy It's not often mathematics makes the op-ed pages. Just how hard is it to make an Olympic flag out of a single piece of string? Harder than you think. But it has just been done. How shopping overwhelms mathematical reasoning Will that be 33% more coffee or 33% less for a cup? Paradigm shift Baseball has always been a game of numbers, but a new use of statistics is changing the game. Traffic jams? Better queue management may mean less gridlock. A different take on graphic novels What do Kurt Vonnegut and the xy-axes have in common? FFT stands for...? And why everyone will care. Bad, just plain bad. How mathematics can help you make really bad music. The unplanned impact of mathematics What do a nineteenth century Irish mathematician and Lara Croft have in common? The Alan Turing Year A celebration of the life and work of Alan Turing in the year of the 100th anniversary of his birth. Christmas Day, 1642 [Newton] was the last of the magicians ... Secrets that lie beneath ... The Archimedes Palimpsest recovered. Your brain and math anxiety ... Just relaaaax. Now that the human population has just passed 7 billion humans ... How do we put 7 billion people in perspective? The trigonometry of tortellini A poetic paean to pasta Sit up! Don't slouch! How comfortable are you with your computer acting as drill sergeant? Phones and trees? Trees are used extensively in computer science, but here computer science identifies trees. Recreating the earliest uses of electronic computers Can you find the University of Waterloo connection to this story? And it's not the computer ... Stonehenge, aliens, your house and randomness Every location in the UK is at the intersection of three or more lines from ancient monuments. That can't be random ... can it? Magic squares are given a whole new dimension. What happens when you replace numbers by shapes in a magic square? All it takes to beat a computer at trivia is a rocket scientist. Are humans in jeopardy on Jeopardy? Game theory's take on the beautiful game - and diving. Soccer and the Art of Deception. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Won't you be my cardioid? No competition when it comes to the job hunt Mathematical careers occupy the top five jobs according to CareerCast and the Wall Street Journal. Fruitful flies How fruit fly biology can improve very large distributed computing performance. A math-genius teenage hero coming to a theatre near you. An anime feature of a math prodigy and his love interest where virtual and real-world complications ensue. The tales mathematicians (and computer scientists) tell Donald Knuth is one of the best known computer scientists in the world. Here he describes his family's emigration to America. There is lots more on him and on others. Teen Mathletes Do Battle at Algorithm Olympics International Olympiad of Informatics held in August at the University of Waterloo nurtured by top tech companies. Students invent and code their own ad hoc algorithms in just five hours. Masters of Math, From Old Babylon An exhibition of Babylonian clay tablets entitled "Before Pythagoras" Into the matrix Are you sure your teacher or students are real? So you want to win the World Series The fastest route around the bases is not the route taken by batters. Just how nasty can a virus be? When it's state-sponsored malware, the question gets complicated. We can probably agree that the Stuxnet worm is very good at being very bad. Beyond that, there is lots of room for debate. Without geometry, life is pointless What are the mental habits of a mathematician? Down the rabbit hole The future of mathematics textbooks? Math is no match for locust swarms It may be impossible to predict where they will strike next. Pigeons beat humans at solving 'Monty Hall' problem A famous probability puzzle fools most humans but not most pigeons. Scientists think that reason may be the reason. Giraffes can swim, though poorly: study Two mathematicians believe they have proved giraffes can swim. Computer generated mathematical models show that the world's tallest animal can theoretically cross rivers. Crop circle season arrives with a mathematical message Mystery surrounds a mathematically designed shape which recently appeared in the countryside of Wiltshire, England. Locating tsunami warning buoys Everyone remembers the devasting Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Mathematics is being used to find the optimal placement of tsunami warning systems. Dan Snaith of Caribou brings energy to music and mathematics How similar is composing a song to solving an equation or studying geometry? Connections between music and mathematics might be stronger than you think. Fake anti-virus software a growing threat One should always be extremely cautious when downloading anything from the internet. What can and should companies or governments do to combat the threat of malicious software? Reunited set of math problems gives clues to how Lincoln learned Historians discovered a missing page of math problems written by Abraham Lincoln. See the digitized version of his homework that is helping researchers better understand the 16th President of the United States. Flouridation may not do much for cavities What does a Statistics Canada study on dental health mean for the controversy about fluoridation of drinking water? Are the statistics meaningful? Can important conclusions be made? Bathroom breaks could wait during gold-medal match If the Olympics can cause an uneven demand for water, what other events might impact our use of the earth's resources? How can mathematics help us understand consumption patterns? Do We Need a 37-Cent Coin? Is our current system of a penny, nickel, dime and quarter as efficient as it could be? The games people play? How do you know when a game is really hard? Why would you do geometry on a sphere? Because it makes the world go round, or at least helps your GPS to work. Why women over 40 are good at math Not only do female math students outperform men at Ontario's community colleges, but it's the 40-something female multi-taskers juggling jobs, families and mortgages who edge out their classmates of either sex at any age, new research shows. Google finds a lost letter of Rene Descartes An interesting intersection of computing capabilities of the 21st century and one of most important mathematicians of the 17th century. Compressed Sensing - no, it's not squeezing your friends. Using sophisticated mathematics and computing algorithms has made dramatic differences when managing the large volumes of data common with medical imagery. What do pi and Picasso have in common? Mathematics helps uncover art fakes. The computer is doomed. Maybe... Super computers require lots of electricity. Is there enough electricity for tomorrow's super computers? What a difference a few percent make Sovereign deficits are big news nowadays. Interesting table - treat the comments with caution. From Fish to Infinity What do Ernie from Sesame Street and Plato have in common? The NY Times has a new column on mathematics. Bad science, really bad science, out of this world bad science No, we don't need aliens to explain this... Have women done it? And how do we really know? Counting seems harder than we might think. Math and magic ... Tricks of a mathemagician ... What famous mathematician was born on Christmas Day, 1642? A brilliant talk given by John Maynard Keynes, the great economist, on the life of ... 10 jobs for math whizzes Ever thought about being a cost estimator? The next generation ... Computers from quantum mechanics. Martin Gardner: Puzzler Extraordinaire A wolf, a goat and a head of cabbage need to be safely ferried across a river ... The good ship "Navigator of Connectivity" And you thought connecting from your place was hard. The best jobs belong to ... According to CareerCast, four of the best five jobs in the US are for mathematicians and computer scientists. No surprise, really. Do the math to help the Vancouver Olympics Simple percentages make transportation at the Olympics much easier. Solve the following word problem. You fall off a boat in the Pacific Ocean Assuming you are wearing a life-jacket, where will you float? What's the hottest graphic novel in Europe? A stellar cast of mathematicians, the quest for truth, villains - as a comic book?