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Your brain maps out numbers, including integers and fractions

Researchers discovered a spatial map of numerical magnitude in the brain, allowing for the processing of integers and fractions within the same system. This organized system enables the brain to represent and compare different kinds of numbers, potentially improving mathematical decision-making.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 22, 2026

From floats to fixes: Unifying ambiguity resolution in satellite navigation

A pioneering study introduces a unified approach to ambiguity resolution in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) precise positioning. The Multiple Integer Candidates Ambiguity Resolution (MICAR) algorithm enhances precision and speed of GNSS positioning by exploiting multiple integer candidates.

Invasive ants spread by hitchhiking on everyday vehicles

Researchers found that ants need three main things to succeed when hitchhiking: climbing ability, foraging/colonizing behaviors, and temperature tolerance. The study tracked the spread of invasive ants through non-commercial transport on personal vehicles, highlighting a significant threat to native species.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalEcological Entomology·DateJun 27, 2024

A first bad apple spoils the bunch

A new study by Cass Business School academic Dr Janina Steinmetz confirms that people tend to judge entire groups based on the performance of their first member. The research found that a bad experience at the 'first' register or position leads to harsher judgments about the group, while a good experience results in greater positivity.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJul 30, 2019

Bees and the thought of naught

Researchers taught bees to recognize 'greater than' and 'less than' inequalities, and they successfully applied this knowledge to understand the concept of zero. This groundbreaking study reveals that even with a limited number of neurons, insects can grasp abstract mathematical concepts.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateJun 8, 2018

Better debugger

Researchers at MIT's CSAIL have developed a new algorithm, DIODE, to detect integer-overflow bugs in programs. The system works by feeding a single sample input and recording each operation performed on it, allowing it to identify potential security vulnerabilities.