A group of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have devised a potentially more effective way of helping computers solve some of the toughest optimization problems they face. Their ...

Have a good mind for computational problem-solving? Fancy netting a cool $1 million for your efforts? Then the University of St. Andrews and the Clay Mathematics Institute sure have the competition ...

Algorithms are the fundamental procedures that guide computers in solving problems, from simple calculations to complex data analysis. At their core, an algorithm is a set of step-by-step instructions ...

We often hear that quantum computers efficiently solve problems that are very difficult to solve with a classical computer. But even if the hardware is available to build a quantum computer, ...

The Rubik’s Cube looks like a simple kids’ toy, but anyone who’s tried to line up the block’s colors knows how challenging it is. For experts, the current record is about three and a half seconds to ...

Scientists say using math to sort through DNA could help investigators put stubborn cold cases to rest. The approach combines the relatively new field of forensic genetic genealogy—solving crime by ...