Mathematics & computers. (Science News of the year: the weekly newsmagazine of science).Prime pursuit A novel approach for identifying prime numbers There are infinitely many prime numbers. The first 500 are listed below, followed by lists of the first prime numbers of various types in alphabetical order. The first 500 prime numbers 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 29 31 37 41 43 47 53 59 61 67 71 provided a long-sought improvement in the theoretical efficiency of algorithms for that task (162: 266 *). Powerful proof A mathematician proved Catalan's conjecture, a venerable problem in number theory concerning relationships among powers of whole numbers (161: 324). Guessing secrets Analyzing a variant of the familiar game of 20 questions offered insights into Internet communication (161: 216 *). Filling in blanks Researchers developed speedy automated methods, based on differential equations, to repair or modify digital images (161: 299 *). Block logic Analyses of sliding-block puzzles led to a novel theoretical model of computer logic (162: 106 *). Molecular factoring For the first time, a simple, molecule-based quantum computer (computer) quantum computer - A type of computer which uses the ability of quantum systems, such as a collection of atoms, to be in many different states at once. In theory, such superpositions allow the computer to perform many different computations simultaneously. carried out Shor's algorithm Shor's algorithm is a quantum algorithm for factoring an integer N in O((log N)3) time and O(log N) space, named after Peter Shor. for factoring a whole number (161: 31). Nuclear blast Nuclear blast may refer to:
For nuclear detonations, see . In a classified U.S.-government experiment, what was then the world's fastest computer simulated a thermonuclear ther·mo·nu·cle·ar adj. 1. Of, relating to, or derived from the fusion of atomic nuclei at high temperatures: thermonuclear reactions. 2. blast in three dimensions (161: 189). Big bucks A government report estimated that software errors in industrial computer programs cost the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. about $60 billion per year (162: 45). Peer pressure Researchers used a mathematical model of peer-influenced behavior to explain unexpected patterns in financial data and bird populations (162: 116). Gaze control Researchers introduced a new method for gaze-operated, hands-free text entry that's faster and more accurate than using an on-screen keyboard (162: 141). * An asterisk indicates that the text of the item is available free on SCIENCE NEWS ONLINE (http://www.sciencenews.org). |
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