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
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)
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
There’s no question that multicore processors have gone mainstream. What advantages do they offer to researchers? Experts say that making the most of multicore systems will require new tools, new algorithms, and a new way of looking at programming. Full story (PDF)