Mathematics & computers.Disguised spheres A Russian mathematician offered a proof of the Poincare conjecture CONJECTURE. Conjectures are ideas or notions founded on probabilities without any demonstration of their truth. Mascardus has defined conjecture: "rationable vestigium latentis veritatis, unde nascitur opinio sapientis;" or a slight degree of credence arising from evidence too weak or too , a question about the shapes of three-dimensional spaces Three-dimensional space is the physical universe we live in. The three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and breadth, although any three mutually perpendicular directions can serve as the three dimensions. Pictures are commonly two dimensional, they lack depth. , but it remained unclear whether the proof is solid (163: 259, 378 *). Ideal justice A mathematical analysis Analysis has its beginnings in the rigorous formulation of calculus. It is the branch of mathematics most explicitly concerned with the notion of a limit, whether the limit of a sequence or the limit of a function. suggested that the current U.S. Supreme Court of nine judges behaves as if it were made up of 4.68 "ideal" justices who always make their decisions independently (163: 405 *). Small world A large-scale study of e-mail users supported the notion that one person on the planet can reach any other person through a chain of about six social ties (164: 103 *). Shape of space The debate over the shape of space took some new twists with the mathematical analysis of satellite snapshots of the universe's temperature waves (164: 296). Digital cells Researchers geared up to engineer cells with computer programs hardwired into DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. (163: 267 *). Knotty knot·ty adj. knot·ti·er, knot·ti·est 1. Tied or snarled in knots. 2. Covered with knots or knobs; gnarled. 3. Difficult to understand or solve. See Synonyms at complex. calculations An alternative approach to quantum computing quantum computing Experimental method of computing that makes use of quantum-mechanical phenomena. It incorporates quantum theory and the uncertainty principle. Quantum computers would allow a bit to store a value of 0 and 1 simultaneously. took advantage of space-time knots and braids (163: 124 *). Infinite wisdom A mathematician proposed a new approach to resolving a longstanding question about infinite sets of numbers (164: 139). Best guess Economists explored the use of betting markets as tools for predicting the consequences of policy decisions by a government, a corporation, or another institution (164: 251 *). Eye contact New software and hardware for implementing attentive systems showed promise in improving human-computer interactions (163: 279 *). * An asterisk indicates that the text of the item is available free on SCIENCE NEWS ONLINE (http://sciencenews.org). |
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