Born from a desire to predict the future, epidemiology has largely been limited to studying the past. Now,
computational epidemiology researchers are harnessing computing power to crack the complicated mystery of
how diseases spread. Full story (PDF)
A trend is taking shape in the computing industry that could significantly change the way academic research is done. A few years from now, researchers who work with massive data sets might stop processing their data locally and find themselves outsourcing the job to massive commercial data clusters. Full story
A laser beam can push a nanoscale particle away with the pressure of its photons, but the particle may also be drawn toward the light when other particles are nearby–like the “tractor beams” of science fiction–according to a theory in the June Physical Review B. Full story
A project at Harvard University is proving that two very different disciplines have very much in common. The Astronomical Medicine Project is working to convert medical imaging software into tools that fuel discoveries in astronomy. But if the scientists behind the project have their way, any discipline that relies on large, complex data sets will reap the benefits. Full story (PDF)
As scientists work to develop intelligent machines, some are taking their cues from biology. Such is the case at MIT, where a computer model is emulating the human brain’s vision center. The model replicates what happens during the first few fractions of a second after we see an object—the part of vision performed by the unconscious mind. Full story (PDF)
Fueled by out-of-this-world curiosity, millions of dollars, and a lot of coffee — Ohio State researchers are reaching for the stars. Full story (PDF)
Married physicists Samir and Smita Mathur have their differences — especially when it comes to black holes. Full story (PDF)
The world’s biggest physics experiment starts in May 2008. To support it, the world’s biggest computing experiment has already begun. The payoffs could reach far beyond physics. Full story (PDF)
Engineering alumni from the University of Dayton offer their perspectives on how NASA has changed with the times — and talk about how they’re personally contributing to today’s “space races,” including NASA’s new pushes toward Mars and the moon. Full story (PDF)
A common notion about Internet search engines is that they bias traffic — that is, they direct people toward popular Web sites, and away from less popular, yet relevant sites. Scientists at Indiana University set out to understand how this bias works. To their surprise, they found very little evidence of its existence. Their work hints at the challenges that scientists face as they develop new and better ways to help us find information. Full story (PDF)
The next generation of electronics may rely on some quirky materials, including a type of silicon that dramatically changes its behavior when exposed to heat or light. One of the physicists at the forefront of this research is David Drabold. His unique way of looking at the world — including his use of a once-obscure statistical technique for predicting material properties — is pushing the development of these “disordered” materials forward. Full Story
A theory predicts when a sieve will block particles smaller than its holes; this research could apply to a variety of natural and artificial filters. Full Story
