Math
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LifeFrom icebergs to smoke, forecasting where dangers will drift
Smoke drifts. Fish eggs float downstream. Where such drifting things end up may seem a mystery. But research can predict where they’ll end up.
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AnimalsEndangered or just rare? Statistics give meaning to the head counts
Whether studying tiny birds or massive whales, researchers collect a lot of data. The field of statistics helps them make sense of those data.
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MathScientists Say: Pi
Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. But some mathematicians say life would be easier if we used a different ratio instead.
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MathExplainer: What is statistics?
Scientists use statistics to design studies, analyze data and evaluate uncertainty. You’ll find it in biology, climate change, medicine and more.
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MathBetter data lead to better forecasts
Scientists turn to mathematical models to make good predictions. But if they don’t put good data into those models, they won’t get reliable forecasts. So good data are key.
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MathBeyond crystal balls: How to make good forecasts
Science shows mounds of data and some math are key to predicting future events.
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MathScientists Say: Outlier
Data points often fall within a normal range. When one data point sticks out a lot, it might be an outlier.
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MathWhat the mummy’s curse reveals about your brain
A man died soon after opening a mummy’s tomb. But don’t assume the mummy killed him. Statistics help explain why coincidences may not be meaningful.
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MathScientists Say: Algebra
Algebra is a type of mathematics that studies symbols and how they can be shifted around.
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SpaceMeet ‘Pi’ — a new Earth-sized planet
Searching through data from NASA’s K2 Mission, researchers found a new planet. Some call it K2-315b, others smile and refer to it as “Pi Earth.”
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PhysicsScientists Say: Velocity
Velocity is more than speed. It is both speed and the direction in which an object is traveling.
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ComputingExplainer: What is an algorithm?
These step-by-step instructions underlie social media, internet searches and other computer-based activities. But what are they exactly? We explain.