List by Author: Chris Budd

The selfish herd

From flocks of starlings to spiral galaxies: this article explores examples of emergent phenomena in nature.

Cellular automata

Find out how a square grid and some simple rules can generate complex patterns and life-like behaviour.

The dynamics of crowds

Human beings are wilful and don't always act rationally. Yet, mathematical models of the behaviour of crowds are surprisingly accurate.

Machine learning: Is it ethical?

Should machines be allowed to make decisions that impact people's lives?

Will machine learning replace mathematicians?

Will sophisticated algorithms one day replace mathematicians?

What is machine learning?

Find out how a little bit of maths can enable a machine to learn from experience.

Robots to play games with

Chess computers were one of the first step towards developing a form of AI. Here's a brief history.

What is a robot?

What is artificial intelligence and is it here yet?

Error correcting codes

Learn about magical mathematical methods for fixing errors on the fly.

Genetics: Nature's digital code

Is nature using digital tools to deal with genetic information?

Crystal clear

From communication technology to LCD displays: crystals are a hugely important part of modern life. Find out more about them with this article.

Getting electrical

How do you make a stealth aircraft that's invisible to radar? An area of maths called random matrix theory holds the answer.