Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

You don't need to be very altruistic to stop an epidemic

Researchers used mathematical modeling to find that even people with minimal concern for others would choose to self-isolate when sick, suppressing diseases in the long-term. The study suggests that only a small amount of altruism is needed to achieve indefinite suppression as an alternative to herd immunity.

How to incentivize problem solving in groups

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that rewarding 'reformers' who improve the collective prediction regardless of their own personal accuracy leads to more accurate and diverse outcomes. This approach is more effective than rewarding 'niche experts' or 'experts', which can lead to a loss of diversity and accuracy.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Nash equilibria: The hidden math behind predator–prey behaviors

Researchers used game theory and individual-based models to show how attack and defense strategies emerge as stable patterns, providing a theoretical framework for understanding predator–prey interactions. The study highlights the importance of sensory abilities for survival and challenges traditional views of predator-prey relationships.

Could police crackdowns actually help criminal networks?

New research shows that targeted law enforcement actions can fragment networks but lead to reorganization into smaller, more specialized groups. This 'criminal opacity amplification' reduces visibility while preserving coordination.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Personalized interactions increase cooperation, trust and fairness

A new study found that when people can tailor their actions to different individuals in their networks, they become significantly more cooperative, trusting, and fair. This contradicts standard experimental setups of cooperation, which underestimate people's prosocial potential.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Quantum jam sessions teach quantum and jamming

Kobe University's new web application combines quantum game theory with jazz improvisation to explore creativity. Users can interact in a 'quantum jam session', receiving real-time visual and auditory feedback on their strategies.

A new attack reshapes the rules of Bitcoin mining

A new attack, Infiltrated Selfish Mining (ISM), could reshape the rules of Bitcoin mining by allowing attackers to profit simultaneously. ISM avoids the miner's dilemma and yields up to 1.52 times more rewards than previous attacks.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Why we trust people who grew up with less

A study published by the American Psychological Association found that people tend to trust individuals from lower-income backgrounds more than those from privileged upbringings. The research suggests that people draw a clear line between someone's childhood and their current socioeconomic status.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Attention can be used to drive cooperation – new study

Researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered that presenting information in areas where participants are naturally drawn to it can influence cooperative choices. This is particularly effective when cooperation information is placed at the bottom of the screen, contrary to natural reading patterns.

Hiring strategies

A new study in JSTAT introduces a hiring strategy model that suggests dividing candidates into two groups: those to be evaluated and rejected upfront, and those to be selected based on their performance relative to previous hires. The optimal approach depends on the company's objective, balancing quality and speed.

Renowned computing society announces new class of Distinguished Members

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has named 56 professionals as Distinguished Members, selected by peers for significant technical achievements and volunteer service. The program recognizes up to 10% of the global ACM membership based on professional experience and impact in computing.

2024 ACM Fellows honored for transformative contributions to computing

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has named 55 Fellows for their transformative contributions to computing science and technology. The inductees represent a diverse range of fields, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, machine learning, and programming languages.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Love thy neighbor

Researchers at ISTA discovered novel network structures that boost cooperation throughout a system. These structures have the potential to be applied in biology, particularly in bioreactors, to speed up evolution and cultivate microorganisms. The findings could also improve cooperation in computer science-based systems.

Study uses game theory to rethink our pandemic responses

Dartmouth researchers propose a new way of thinking about masking and social distancing rules using game theory, considering them as two distinct actions. The study finds that people respond differently to these measures based on their perception of the disease's severity, trending towards masking or no protective action over time.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Mathematicians model a puzzling breakdown in cooperative behaviour

A new model reveals that cooperative behaviour between species may break down when conditions are ripe for mutual benefit. Researchers found that as cooperation becomes easier, it can unexpectedly disappear, with asymmetric clusters forming and interacting across lattices.

Natural selection may create inter-species exploitation

A modeling study suggests that one-sided interspecies cooperation can emerge and persist over time, with only one species benefiting. The authors use evolutionary game theory and the prisoner's dilemma to model this phenomenon, finding that natural selection may favor asymmetric states where one species exploits another.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

When is too much knowledge a bad thing?

A new study suggests that increased knowledge can backfire when individuals prioritize their own interests over the greater good. The 'knowledge curse' concept, coined by Cornell University economists, highlights the potential for enhanced understanding to hinder cooperation and lead to worse outcomes.

The time it takes a person to decide can predict their preference

A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that people can infer hidden social preferences by observing how fast others make social decisions. By analyzing response times and options, participants were able to predict the other person's preference even if they didn't know what choices were made.

Does simple guesswork lead to more cooperation than complicated calculus?

A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania explored how Bayesian and abductive reasoning can be used to model social dynamics. They found that in some scenarios, simple guesswork can lead to more cooperation than complicated calculus, while in others it may result in less cooperation due to stricter judgment criteria.

A win–win approach: maximizing Wi-Fi performance using game theory

A team of researchers has developed a novel approach using game theory to maximize Wi-Fi performance by optimizing user positions. By analyzing the incentives for all users, their potential game model condenses the impact of new users and inter-user interference into a single function.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

New study reveals the evolutionary nature of animal friendships

Researchers from Stockholm University and University of Neuchâtel discover social bonds in group-living animals develop over time through mutual aid and shared activities. Existing members actively initiate new friendships with recruits, expanding the social network.

What math tells us about social dilemmas

Scientists develop a new mathematical principle to understand cooperation among individuals with different characteristics. Their model suggests that a more equal distribution of resources is necessary for diversities to sustain cooperation, but not for maximum general welfare.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Mathematics supporting fresh theoretical approach in oncology

A study by the University of the Basque Country uses game theory to establish that tumours with less cellular heterogeneity are more aggressive. The work suggests a fresh theoretical approach for new therapeutic strategies, focusing on preserving high intratumour heterogeneity.

Why do some politicians cling to power after electoral defeat?

A recent paper by University of Auckland academics explores why losing politicians fight back, highlighting the role of electoral integrity in ensuring power transitions. Protests, election results clarity, and transparent processes interact to determine an incumbent's decision to step down.

Does staying informed help us cooperate?

A new game theory model developed at ISTA finds that both information and ignorance can lead to cooperative outcomes in changing environments. The model, based on stochastic games and algebra, quantifies the benefits of ignorance in around 80-90% cases, highlighting counter-intuitive instances where it is optimal for cooperation.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

What math can teach us about standing up to bullies

A game theory study from Dartmouth College reveals that being uncooperative can lead to a more equal outcome, even for the weaker party. By refusing to fully cooperate, players can resist extortion and ultimately achieve a better payoff.

The evolution of societal cooperation

Researchers developed a model that considers multiple coexisting social norms and studied how these norms might compete as individuals learn from one another. Key findings include the success of 'stern judging' in promoting cooperation, particularly in situations where individuals show a preference for interacting within their own group.

You or me: Who gets the higher reward?

Researchers found that humans achieve dynamic balance by taking turns, while monkeys use static strategies that often result in one player losing out over time. Monkeys can learn to coordinate dynamically with human partners but then compete with each other.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Researcher solves nearly 60-year-old game theory dilemma

Researchers have proved that a long-standing game theory dilemma does not exist in the wall pursuit game, introducing a new method of analysis that proves there is always a deterministic solution. This discovery opens doors to resolving other similar challenges and enables better reasoning about autonomous systems.

Fighting intolerance with physics

A complex system economic model shows that inequality boosts intolerance, but redistribution of wealth can prevent its spread. Economically disfavored individuals from minority groups may prioritize helping wealthy individuals over their own group when discriminated against.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

How species partnerships evolve

Biologists from the University of Pennsylvania explored how symbiotic relationships between species evolve to become specific or general, cooperative or antagonistic. They found that cooperative partnering strategies could persist in populations with one specialized host and a corresponding specialized symbiont.

Moral behavior pays off

A game-theory-based approach explains the emergence of moral norms through the coupling of two games: social dilemma and coordination tasks. Cooperation can pay off when individuals prioritize group benefits over personal interests, leading to a self-sacrificing behavior that benefits all parties.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Reward for cooperative behavior

A study by Max-Planck Researchers found that individuals learn to use rewards specifically to promote good behavior when others also learn about them. The researchers used game theory to explain how reputation affects cooperation and rewarding policies.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.