Web-crawling program ID’s disease outbreaks

Scientists are searching within the virtual world and finding real viruses. Every hour, HealthMap, an infectious disease-tracking Web site, culls through news Web sites, public health list servs, the World Health Organization’s online pages, and other Web sites in six different languages to pinpoint outbreaks of disease that real-world doctors can then act on.

- Eric Bland @ Discovery Channel: Link.

Via Slashdot: Link.

Online games as models of real-world epidemics

In an online game called World of Warcraft, an unexpected error in the software has provided a ready-made laboratory for studying the effects of an epidemic.

- via karljones.com: Link.

Translating genetic information into music to diagnose disease

Here’s an intriguing new way to examine data: turn it into music. Gil Alterovitz, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School, is developing a computer program that translates protein and gene expression into music: harmony represents good health, and discord indicates disease.

You can listen to some samples online. (Via KurzweilAI.net)

- Edward Willett @ Futurismic: Link.

~ Karl Jones

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