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» Researchers discover how to conduct first test of 'untestable' string theory
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT
Researchers have planned how to carry out the first experimental test of string theory. String theory was originally developed to describe the fundamental particles and forces that make up our universe. The new research describes the unexpected discovery that string theory also seems to predict the behavior of entangled quantum particles. As this prediction can be tested in the laboratory, researchers can now test string theory.

» New model may simplify high-dose radiosurgery planning
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT
There is yet no straightforward way to determine the optimal dose level and treatment schedules for high-dose radiation therapies such as stereotactic radiation therapy, which is used to treat brain and lung cancer, or for high-dose brachytherapy for prostate and other cancers. Radiation oncology researchers may have solved the problem with a new mathematical model called the Generalized LQ (gLQ) Model that encompasses all dose levels and schedules.

» Hawking Says God Not Needed to Kick-Start Big Bang; World Freaks Out | 80beats
Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:20:31 -0700
Physicist Sean Carroll, one of the people behind Cosmic Variance here at DISCOVER blogs, tweeted yesterday: “I think Stephen Hawking could say ‘ice cream is delicious’ and get massive media coverage.” He’s probably right. Last month the renowned physicists made the news by warning of the great threat of human extinction over the next couple [...]

» Stephen Hawking Settles the God Question Once and For All | Cosmic Variance
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:45:00 -0700
Stephen Hawking has a new book coming out (The Grand Design, with Leonard Mlodinow). Among other things, he points out that modern physics has progressed to the point where we don’t need to invoke God to explain the existence of the universe. This is not exactly a hot flash — I remember writing [...]

» Taking fantasy football strategy to the next level
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:48:29 EST
The fantasy football season's outcome is often decided before real NFL players take the field for meaningful games. Separating your team from the crowd takes analysis -- based in logic, math, and knowledge of the unique quirks of a league.

» Math from the heart: Simulating stent design and coating
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:10:34 EST
Suncica "Sunny" Canic was good at math in school, so that's what she pursued as a career. But she always liked medicine, too. When she moved to Houston, Texas, and met some cardiologists at a party, she started talking with them about what they do -- and knew she could help them.

» Random, but not by chance
Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:51:00 +0000

Researchers from the University of Maryland have devised a new kind of random number generator that is cryptographically secure, inherently private and — most importantly — certified random by the laws of physics. Randomness is important, particularly in the age of the Internet, because it guarantees security. Valuable data and messages can be encrypted using long strings of random numbers to act as "keys", which encode and decode the information. Randomness implies unpredictability, so if the key is truly random, it's next to impossible for an outsider to guess it.

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» Electoral impossibilities
Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:22:00 +0000

One advantage of the UK voting system is that nobody could possibly fail to understand how it works. However, the disadvantages are well-known. Differently sized constituencies mean that the party in government doesn't necessarily have the largest share of the vote. The first-past-the-post system turns the election into a two-horse race, which leaves swathes of the population un-represented, forces tactical voting, and turns election campaigns into mud-slinging contests.

There are many alternative voting systems, but is there a perfect one? The answer, in a mathematical sense, is no.

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