To the horror of readers everywhere, computer scientists have developed an algorithm they say can predict the commercial viability of a book, with an 84 percent success rate, based solely on the style ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Computer scientists often deal with abstract problems that are hard to comprehend, but an exciting new algorithm matters to anyone who ...

When I received the Brooklyn Public Library’s recent email newsletter promoting a new service called BookMatch, I was both delighted and dismayed. On the one hand, it was a great idea. All I had to do ...

Knowing when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em is one of life's perpetual mysteries. If you have a mathematical inclination, or a bent for probabilities, this book might well catalyze a turning point ...

Google is famous for the brilliance of its algorithm for searching web pages. While the company looks at dozens of factors in determining which results to display, the heart of the search engine is ...

Dr. Victor Frankenstein thought it would be a good idea to bring an inanimate body to life. We all know how that turned out. Now, Robert Harris — best-selling author of novels about Nazi Germany ...