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)
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 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
The idea of linking supercomputers into a computational grid to confront big problems isn’t a new one, but an earthquake researcher and his colleagues are doing something different. They’re linking grids together—effectively, using grids of grids—thanks to a software movement that takes its name from the musical phenomenon known as the mashup. Full story (PDF)
Computer scientists have discovered some creative strategies to help neural networks fulfill their potential in pattern recognition and artificial intelligence. Machine vision is his near-term goal, but the real prize could be insight into the human brain. Full story (PDF)
A software program is using statistical algorithms to infer grammar from text and generate new and meaningful sentences. Given that scientists are still trying to understand how we learn language, the software’s methods can’t be called human-like. Even so, it could still be an important building block on the way to artificial intelligence. Full story (PDF)
Scientists at University College London are looking beyond the question of how many hurricanes will form during a given season to ask how severe and how damaging the hurricanes that strike the US coast will be. The idea is to help people anticipate hurricane damage and all the effects that follow. In Katrina’s wake, knowing what to expect from a storm season—well in advance of a disaster—is more important than ever before. Full story (PDF)
New research suggests a surprisingly tangible link between art and science: a painter’s every brush stroke and a writer’s every word leave behind a unique creative signature—a computer-readable mathematical fingerprint. Full story (PDF)
Today, scientists can predict the Earth’s climate months ahead of time. A new synergy between two competing analysis methods is helping push forecasts out even further. Full story (PDF)
A study of vortices may lead to ultra-maneuverable craft that can navigate beneath the ice, or even inside the human body. Full story (PDF)
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