Famed writer and editor Roger Angell has died at age 101. Take a look at this article. I hadn't realized it before reading this article, but Angell is from quite a famous family.
Here is Angell's Wikipedia entry.
Friday, May 20, 2022
Thursday, May 19, 2022
"How Do Our Brains Support Our Friendships?"
One of my articles just came out in final published form. Here are some details.
Title: How Do Our Brains Support Our Friendships?
Authors: Elisa C. Baek, Ryan Hyon, Mason A. Porter, and Carolyn Parkinson
Abstract: Have you ever wondered how your friends impact how you see the world? Or how you are able to keep track of the many different people in your life? To study these questions, scientists have begun to look at people’s social networks and their brains at the same time. In this article, we introduce this area of study and discuss how scientists use ideas from both neuroscience and mathematics to examine these questions. We also highlight some recent discoveries that reveal both how our brains support our ability to socialize with others and how our relationships with other people are related to how we use our brains.
Title: How Do Our Brains Support Our Friendships?
Authors: Elisa C. Baek, Ryan Hyon, Mason A. Porter, and Carolyn Parkinson
Abstract: Have you ever wondered how your friends impact how you see the world? Or how you are able to keep track of the many different people in your life? To study these questions, scientists have begun to look at people’s social networks and their brains at the same time. In this article, we introduce this area of study and discuss how scientists use ideas from both neuroscience and mathematics to examine these questions. We also highlight some recent discoveries that reveal both how our brains support our ability to socialize with others and how our relationships with other people are related to how we use our brains.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
What Happens in Davis Stays in Davis.
I am off to a short workshop at UC Davis.
However, I just almost accidentally boarded a flight to Hawaii.
I am flying to Sacramento for the workshop at UC Davis.
[I also just noticed: One of the PhD students in my class is actually here and probably on the same flight.]
However, I just almost accidentally boarded a flight to Hawaii.
I am flying to Sacramento for the workshop at UC Davis.
[I also just noticed: One of the PhD students in my class is actually here and probably on the same flight.]
Saturday, May 14, 2022
A Great Visual Illusion: Radiating the Same Luminance
This is a great visual illusion.
The top and bottom chess pieces radiate the same luminance. (I did some sampling to check, and it seems to check out.)
(Tip of the cap to Luiz Pessoa.)
The top and bottom chess pieces radiate the same luminance. (I did some sampling to check, and it seems to check out.)
Wednesday, May 04, 2022
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2022 inductees! They include Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Pat Benatar, and Harry Belafonte.
Sunday, May 01, 2022
"Topological Data Analysis of Spatial Systems"
A book chapter of ours was just published in final form. It is Chapter 16 in this book. Here are some other details about it.
Title: Topological Data Analysis of Spatial Systems
Authors: Michelle Feng, Abigail Hickok, and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: In this chapter, we discuss applications of topological data analysis (TDA) to spatial systems. We briefly review a recently proposed level-set construction of filtered simplicial complexes, and we then examine persistent homology in two cases studies: street networks in Shanghai and anomalies in the spread of COVID-19 infections. We then summarize our results and provide an outlook on TDA in spatial systems.
Title: Topological Data Analysis of Spatial Systems
Authors: Michelle Feng, Abigail Hickok, and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: In this chapter, we discuss applications of topological data analysis (TDA) to spatial systems. We briefly review a recently proposed level-set construction of filtered simplicial complexes, and we then examine persistent homology in two cases studies: street networks in Shanghai and anomalies in the spread of COVID-19 infections. We then summarize our results and provide an outlook on TDA in spatial systems.