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If You Thought Studying History Was Bad, This Math Professor Is Making It Harder

Posted by Soulskill on from the when-reference-books-become-religion dept.

Raven writes: New research out of Streeling University aims to make planning for the future much easier. The work, led by professor Seldon, tries to set probabilistic values on future events, and then weigh those probabilities against each other to figure out what combination of events is most likely to happen. Describing it under the unlikely moniker "psychohistory," Seldon seems to think planning even 10,000 years into the future might be possible. (Seldon also seems to be a bit of a doomsayer, so this is likely exaggerated.) Nevertheless, it'll be another tool for government planners to consider when developing new colonies.

14 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. now this more like it by kallen3 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    this is more in the line of a slashdot april fools

    1. Re:now this more like it by rossdee · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yes, at least this one is based on a book (series) rather than movies or TV SciFi

    2. Re:now this more like it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Every now and then a /. thread shows up and completely restores my faith in humanity.

      This is not that thread, but it sure beats the usual.

    3. Re:now this more like it by halivar · · Score: 2

      That one reason alone is why I detest Foundation and Earth and the prequels. It's like all the work and struggles of the two trilogies were meaningless, and the genius of Seldon was reduced to a parlor trick.

  2. more academic BS by Goldsmith · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is just another play for increased grant funding with less oversight. Convenient that the program managers won't be able to evaluate anything until well after the money is spent.

    1. Re:more academic BS by Dragonslicer · · Score: 2

      next thing you know he will want his own planet to protect against predicted disasters.

      My prediction is that he'll ask for two planets.

  3. Re:Where is the story? by hodet · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah fuck.......leaving slashdot until April2. fuck ^*&((^&*(^*&Y&* SUHRUISHUIPY&Y&*)^6

  4. Home, home on derange by techno-vampire · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...Where Seldon is heard,
    A discouraging word.

    --
    Good, inexpensive web hosting
  5. We must build by gibbson · · Score: 2

    a Foundation!

    1. Re:We must build by Penguinisto · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Damnit! You weren't supposed to tell anyone about the second one yet!

      (Just great... now we gotta build a third one so that no one... shit! Okay, a four- dammit!)

      --
      Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
    2. Re:We must build by Dragonslicer · · Score: 3, Funny

      Star's End? Where the hell is that?

  6. Re:Make it stop! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If they're going to continue with April Fools' Jokes, at least this one was subtle and appropriately geeky... the way it should be done. If you're gonna do it, do it this way...not the way you did with Dune and Star Wars already.

  7. Re:Where is the story? by halivar · · Score: 2

    BAHAHAHA! YES! Finally, a victim!!!

  8. Re:Black Swans by phantomfive · · Score: 2

    Maybe you should read Foundation.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."