Another week gone by, another week of great stories. The unseen worlds of Star Wars; computers recognizing objects as well as the human brain; a space station flyover of the Mediterranean; open source code for powerful image detection; and the mathematical secret to perfect pancakes are all among our top stories.
Mathematicians Reveal Secret to Perfect Pancakes
Mathematicians have developed, trialed and tested a formula which enables pancake-lovers across the world to rustle-up pancakes to their own personal preference, taking into account the number of pancakes required, thickness and pan size. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family of six, or simply wishing to treat yourself on Shrove Tuesday, the formula will help you prepare the perfect pancake feast.
Open Source Code Released for Powerful Image Detection Algorithm
A UCLA Engineering research group has made public the computer code for an algorithm that helps computers process images at high speeds and “see” them in ways that human eyes cannot. The researchers say the code could eventually be used in face, fingerprint and iris recognition for high-tech security, as well as in self-driving cars’ navigation systems or for inspecting industrial products.
Space Station Flyover of the Mediterranean
Expedition 46 flight engineer Tim Peake of the European Space Agency shared this stunning nighttime photograph with his social media followers on January 25, 2016, writing, “Beautiful night pass over Italy, Alps and Mediterranean.” Peak, who was launched to the International Space Station, on December 15, 2015, is the first British ESA astronaut.
New Algorithm Improves Speed and Accuracy of Pedestrian Detection
What if computers could recognize objects as well as the human brain? Engineers have taken an important step with a pedestrian detection system that performs in near real-time with higher accuracy compared to existing systems. The technology could be used in smart vehicles, robotics and image and video search systems. The algorithm combines traditional computer vision classification, known as cascade detection, with deep learning.
Mathematics Reveal the Unseen Worlds of Star Wars
Do you think you know all there is to know about Star Wars? You may change your mind after reading this article. Using a new computer program, researchers revealed some interesting statistics on the famous saga. Drawing on the principles of graph theory, which harnesses computing power and mathematical calculations, they analyzed hundreds of web pages devoted to the legendary film series.