The Search Patterns that Lead to Big Ideas
Researchers from New York University, Cornell, and Tel Aviv show how inventors discover unusual breakthroughs
In the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, the political parties in many states are working to redefine their congressional district maps to gain every possible edge. From California and Texas to Tennessee and Virginia, redistricting efforts have taken center stage. The Supreme Court has sanctioned partisan gerrymandering, and the system has evolved to one in which state legislature majorities get to determine who is most likely to fill those seats in Congress.
In short, gerrymandering has become a central feature of the system, not a bug. But what if we rethink the structure entirely?
Fake Hermès Birkin bags and other counterfeit luxury goods are popular not only with people on a budget, but also with those with deeper pockets, a new study suggests.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore analyzed millions of counterfeit purchases by American consumers from more than 24,000 U.S. zip codes on a major cross-border, e-commerce platform. They found that both lower- and higher-income individuals are “significantly more likely” to buy fake luxury items than middle-income consumers, according to a press release by INFORMS on Monday.
A new study from INFORMS suggests warehouse robots perform better when they work together instead of operating independently.
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Researchers from New York University, Cornell, and Tel Aviv show how inventors discover unusual breakthroughs
Dozens of Transportation Security Administration Officers (TSOs) have tested positive for the coronavirus, creating a two-way transmission highway between screeners and passengers, further spreading the virus. This has occurred while the number of air travelers has dropped by more than 95 percent since early March.
The study found that cost transparency among firms could improve sales by up to 20 percent when done so voluntarily.
When Georgia’s Republican governor Brian Kemp said he would allow gyms, hair salons, tattoo parlours and other small businesses in the state to reopen on Friday, Paris Campeau had a tough decision to make.
Over the past few months the world has experienced a series of Covid-19 outbreaks that have generally followed the same pathway: an initial phase with few infections and limited response, followed by a take-off of the famous epidemic curve accompanied by a country-wide lockdown to flatten the curve. Then, once the curve peaks, governments have to address what President Trump has called “the biggest decision” of his life: when and how to manage de-confinement.

OR/MS Today is the INFORMS member magazine that shares the latest research and best practices in operations research, analytics and the management sciences.
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Analytics magazine showcases articles and research reports based on big data, AI, machine learning, data analytics and other new-age technologies.
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