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 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)
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)
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)