Inferring Authorship (Part 1)
This episode is inspired by one of our projects for Intro to Machine Learning: given a writing sample, can you use machine learning to identify who wrote it? Turns out that the answer is yes, a person...
16 Apr 20158min
Statistical Mistakes and the Challenger Disaster
After the Challenger exploded in 1986, killing all 7 astronauts aboard, an investigation into the cause was immediately launched. In the cold temperatures the night before the launch, the o-rings th...
6 Apr 201513min
Genetics and Um Detection (HMM Part 2)
In part two of our series on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), we talk to Katie and special guest Francesco about more useful and novel applications of HMMs. We revisit Katie's "Um Detector," and hear abou...
25 Mar 201514min
Introducing Hidden Markov Models (HMM Part 1)
Wikipedia says, "A hidden Markov model (HMM) is a statistical Markov model in which the system being modeled is assumed to be a Markov process with unobserved (hidden) states." What does that even mea...
24 Mar 201514min
Monte Carlo For Physicists
This is another physics-centered podcast, about an ML-backed particle identification tool that we use to figure out what kind of particle caused a particular blob in the detector. But in this case, as...
12 Mar 20158min
Random Kanye
Ever feel like you could randomly assemble words from a certain vocabulary and make semi-coherent Kanye West lyrics? Or technical documentation, imitations of local newscasters, your politically outsp...
4 Mar 20158min
Lie Detectors
Often machine learning discussions center around algorithms, or features, or datasets--this one centers around interpretation, and ethics. Suppose you could use a technology like fMRI to see what re...
25 Feb 20159min
The Enron Dataset
In 2000, Enron was one of the largest and companies in the world, praised far and wide for its innovations in energy distribution and many other markets. By 2002, it was apparent that many bad apples...
9 Feb 201512min
