http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/02/the-mathematics-of-clumpy-crime.html
The article “The Mathematics of Clumsy Crime” talks about a mathematical model; designed by mathematician Andrea Bertozzi of the University of California, Los Angeles; that describes and examines with close detail causes for criminal hotspots. At first I thought that such a model was not possible, because even though we regularly apply math and numbers in our daily lives (such as counting money), and even though numbers can describe situations and complicated physical phenomena (such as physics, chemistry, etc.) I never thought numbers or a mathematical formula could be used to describe, analyze and predict human behavior. However as weird as it may seem they did not only try the model out in San Fernando Valley with positive results, but the author goes over the main and most interesting points of the model, and they do coincide with the way a normal human being would behave. Some of these points are that criminal hot spots form when previous crimes attract more criminals to a neighborhood and that a house’s attractiveness increases if criminals have hit homes nearby. If many houses from the same neighborhood have been hit by criminals the whole area becomes provoking to criminals and a hot spot forms.
This means that his model is supported by good number (mathematical) theory, San Francisco Valley try-out, and thorough reason and explanation of every step and assumption on his model. This may be a new step for society. This model may prove that human behavior can be modeled by formulas and mathematical models. It may take time for us to get used to it and to completely understand it, but that is totally comprehendible. At first it was hard for humans to comprehend that the movement of objects, the basics of sound, light, temperature, etc. could be simplified by mathematical formulas, even though nowadays we take all these discoveries for granted.
This model can also tremendously help police agencies to combat crime in a more effective way. The most effective police agency is not the one that stops criminals after they commit crimes but before. And that is what this model will allow agencies all over the world to do (to certain extent). Mathematicians all over the world should take this model as an example, and try to model different types of human behavior (maybe suicidal behaviors, among others) which will significantly help society for the future.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Blog #4
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2009/12/08-02.html
This article talks about a new scientific discovery that can lead to a new, cheap, and flexible source of power. The discovery is the use of nanotubes on photocopy paper in batteries and other energy-storing devices. What’s important in the setup is the way the materials are organized for paper to polarize and become highly conductive. Paper batteries can store up to 7.5 Watt-hours per kilogram, which is a formidable number, considering how cheap and flexible this type of battery would be.
The idea of using a new material for batteries (that would make them lightweight, flexible, and cheap at the same time) is not totally new and has previously been explored and closely analyzed by researchers. However previous research was done with cellulose (the same starting material used to make paper) and plastic which both proved to be inefficient for the needs of the battery. Even though these materials have a sturdy structure, they could easily split apart if flexed which would then destroy the whole concept of the battery. Researchers then realized that paper had the perfect structure (sturdy and flexible).
This concept is totally innovative. Now that researchers found out that nanotubes and paper-fibers hold tight and can be used for batteries “enables engineers to make batteries in almost any shape”. This would tremendously help towards the future, because we could adapt batteries size, and shape depending on the machine or object we need it for.
In a more general sense, I really enjoyed reading over this article. I had the feeling that everything I was reading was important and would eventually be a positive contribution towards modern scientific society. I make strong emphasis in this, because most of the times I feel that research papers investigate topics that are not relevant for society and that not vital for envisioning and working towards the future. Researches tend to ramble and explain in very close detail things that are unnecessary. Unlike other research papers, I strongly felt (as I said before) that this paper makes very strong and positive contributions to how technology will change because it improves one of the most important topics in our modern world, sources of energy.
This article talks about a new scientific discovery that can lead to a new, cheap, and flexible source of power. The discovery is the use of nanotubes on photocopy paper in batteries and other energy-storing devices. What’s important in the setup is the way the materials are organized for paper to polarize and become highly conductive. Paper batteries can store up to 7.5 Watt-hours per kilogram, which is a formidable number, considering how cheap and flexible this type of battery would be.
The idea of using a new material for batteries (that would make them lightweight, flexible, and cheap at the same time) is not totally new and has previously been explored and closely analyzed by researchers. However previous research was done with cellulose (the same starting material used to make paper) and plastic which both proved to be inefficient for the needs of the battery. Even though these materials have a sturdy structure, they could easily split apart if flexed which would then destroy the whole concept of the battery. Researchers then realized that paper had the perfect structure (sturdy and flexible).
This concept is totally innovative. Now that researchers found out that nanotubes and paper-fibers hold tight and can be used for batteries “enables engineers to make batteries in almost any shape”. This would tremendously help towards the future, because we could adapt batteries size, and shape depending on the machine or object we need it for.
In a more general sense, I really enjoyed reading over this article. I had the feeling that everything I was reading was important and would eventually be a positive contribution towards modern scientific society. I make strong emphasis in this, because most of the times I feel that research papers investigate topics that are not relevant for society and that not vital for envisioning and working towards the future. Researches tend to ramble and explain in very close detail things that are unnecessary. Unlike other research papers, I strongly felt (as I said before) that this paper makes very strong and positive contributions to how technology will change because it improves one of the most important topics in our modern world, sources of energy.
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