Science News / Numbers

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In This Issue

Sequencing the dead to save the living: Reviving ancient genomes of long-extinct creatures offers a window into past extinctions—and may help prevent future die outs
No gene is an island: Even as biologists catalog the discrete parts of life forms, an emerging picture reveals that life’s functions arise from interconnectedness
The decider: Informing the debate over the reality of ‘free will’ requires learning something about the lateral habenula
This week's table of contents

:: Numbers

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Math Trek: How to (really) trust a mathematical proof

Mathematicians develop computer proof-checking systems in order to realize long-sought dreams of fully precise, accurate mathematics.
Found in: Numbers
Math Trek: Shuffling the cards: Math does the trick

When to stop shuffling depends on the game
Found in: Numbers
Math Trek: Unknotting knot theory

New techniques are beginning to unravel the mysteries of knots, revealing a great mathematical superstructure in the process.
Found in: Numbers
Math Trek: A frustrating view of complexity

The unifying theme of complex systems, a researcher argues, is frustration.
Found in: Numbers
Math Trek: Counting how votes count

A rational person will vote, economists show, as an act of altruism.
Found in: Numbers
An infinite beautiful mind

Theorem identifies cases in which infinite-choice games will have at least one Nash equilibrium.
Found in: Numbers
Numbers don’t add up for U.S. girls

Culture may turn potentially high achievers away from math, new study suggests.
Found in: Numbers and Science & Society
Math Trek: Rating the rankings

The U.S. News & World Report rankings of colleges and universities are largely arbitrary, according to a new mathematical analysis.
Found in: Numbers
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Sights and Sounds

Photography

The First Sound Bites
The presidential campaign, 1908-style. Hear early phonograph recordings.

Blogs:

Science & the Public Is Your Fish Oil Polluted?
By Janet Raloff Nov 20th 2008

Columns:

Comment Debates over definition of planet continue and inspire
By Alan Stern Nov 21st 2008

Math Trek How to (really) trust a mathematical proof
By Julie Rehmeyer
Mathematicians develop computer proof-checking systems in order to realize century-old dreams of fully precise, accurate mathematics. Nov 14th 2008

Bulletin Board: