Autorentext

Lev Reyzin is a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago whose research spans mathematics, theoretical computer science, and artificial intelligence. He co-directs the NSF-funded IDEAL Institute and is editor-in-chief of 'Mathematics of Data, Learning, and Intelligence.' His work has received multiple awards at leading machine learning venues.

Klappentext

Einstein's theory of relativity, the butterfly effect, deep learning, game theory. If you've heard these buzzwords but are a bit fuzzy on the details, then this book is for you. Professor Lev Reyzin will take you on a fascinating whirlwind tour of the science behind these concepts, answering your burning questions about Pangea, DNA, and what exactly is quantum computing. Using clear language and emphasizing big ideas over technical details, this book shows that science can be enjoyed by everyone. Each chapter explores a different foundational scientific idea, ending with a brief history of the topic, further reading, and more technical details for the mathematically inclined reader. Much of science is developed through curiosity about the world around us, and this book will help feed that curiosity in you.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: modern ideas in science; 2. On the edge of certainty: chaos theory; 3. Hidden unity: theory of relativity; 4. Machines and minds: computation, complexity, and AI; 5. Reality in superposition: quantum mechanics; 6. The code within: molecular genetics; 7. The logic of life: game theory; 8. From stars to cells: the carbon cycle; 9. Shifting ground: plate tectonics; Epilogue; Acknowledgments; Glossary of terms; Bibliography.