A hungry little number cruncher

Wolfram Alpha search tool mines databases to yield math-based replies

(Globe Staff Illustration/ Istockphoto.Com)

By Hiawatha Bray

Globe Staff / May 5, 2009

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Computers can't think, but they can count. That's the idea behind Wolfram Alpha, a new search service that could be as much of a game-changer as Wikipedia or Google. Alpha, created by renowned mathematician, author, and entrepreneur Stephen Wolfram, uses fast computers and vast statistical databases to answer questions just as a human would - a human with advanced degrees ... (Full article: 913 words)