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An Applied Mathematician With an Unexpected Toolbox

March 1, 2023

Lek-Heng Lim uses tools from algebra, geometry and topology to answer questions in machine learning.

To Teach Computers Math, Researchers Merge AI Approaches

February 15, 2023

Large language models still struggle with basic reasoning tasks. Two new papers that apply machine learning to math provide a blueprint for how that could change.

Mathematicians Complete Quest to Build ‘Spherical Cubes’

February 10, 2023

Is it possible to fill space “cubically” with shapes that act like spheres? A proof at the intersection of geometry and theoretical computer science says yes.

The Joy of Asking About Infinity, Jellyfish and the End of the Universe

February 9, 2023

As The Joy of Why podcast returns for a second season, producer Polly Stryker and host Steven Strogatz invite listeners to join them and their brilliant new guests on another voyage of discovery.

Researchers Discover a More Flexible Approach to Machine Learning

February 7, 2023

“Liquid” neural nets, based on a worm’s nervous system, can transform their underlying algorithms on the fly, giving them unprecedented speed and adaptability.

Machines Learn Better if We Teach Them the Basics

February 1, 2023

A wave of research improves reinforcement learning algorithms by pre-training them as if they were human.

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The Computer Scientist Who Finds Life Lessons in Games

January 25, 2023

In Shang-Hua Teng’s work, theoretical and practical questions have long been intertwined. Now he’s turning his focus to the impractical.

Finally, a Fast Algorithm for Shortest Paths on Negative Graphs

January 18, 2023

Researchers can now find the shortest route through a network nearly as fast as theoretically possible, even when some steps can cancel out others.

New Algorithm Closes Quantum Supremacy Window

January 9, 2023

Random circuit sampling, a popular technique for showing the power of quantum computers, doesn’t scale up if errors go unchecked.

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