MAP-seq: The New Way to Study the Brain
Mapping the neural connections between brain cells in an efficient manner is an issue for neurologists today. Most methods require the use of a microscope or fluorescent protein injection; these are sub-optimal approaches that are either incredibly laborious (the former) or simply inadequate for analyzing neural networks simultaneously (the latter). Unfortunately, these methods were all […]
Ant colony behavior simplifies analysis of network communication
The beauty of information science is that the simplest of examples and experiments can be used to explain the intricacies of broad concepts. For one, graph theory can be explained by almost anything–in this case, an ant colony. In the article “Exploring Networks Efficiently” by Larry Hardesty, researchers at MIT conducted a study based on […]
Investigating Collusion Among Oil Refiners
http://www.wsj.com/articles/california-attorney-general-investigating-major-oil-refiners-1467302726 This summer, the California attorney general launched an investigation of major oil refiners in the state in order to determine whether the major oil refiners had colluded to withhold supply in an attempt to artificially raise gasoline prices. The three companies being investigated, Tesoro, Chevron, and Exxon Mobile, control over half of the refining capacity […]
Social Networks Key to Crickets’ Success
Researchers at the University of Guelph have studied crickets and determined that the insect’s social network remains unchanged each year, and over a long period of time, making them a great resource for vital information about animal networks. Since cricket’s have a stable network, researchers are able to conduct multiple experiments over time without having […]
Mining Facebook Friendship Networks
Without a doubt, Facebook is one of the most important social networking sites to date. Since its launch in 2004, its user friendly environment and interface led to its rapid development, transforming into a platform able to connect billions of people in a integrated mesh of “friendships.” A recently published research paper, “Using Mining Predict […]
How the Spread of Ebola Mirrors a Growing Network
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28755033 The recent Ebola crisis in West Africa was the largest Ebola outbreak in known history, and became a worldwide issue, raising fears of possible contagion. Beginning in a small village in south-eastern Guinea, the disease radiated outwards, affecting districts across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Some patients who traveled through West Africa brought the […]