According to US journal Science, the perfect solution to how to play checkers (draughts) without losing is one of the ten most interesting discoveries of 2007. Dr. Yngvi Björnsson at Reykjavík University is one of its discoverers.
“It is very pleasing, but this recognition may not have much impact,” Björnsson, who discovered the checkers-solution with a team of Canadian scientists, told Fréttabladid. “It is, in fact, a greater recognition that the article about the discovery was published in the journal last summer […]; one of the most respected scientific journals in the world.”
The list about the ten most interesting discoveries in 2007 was published on Science’s website in late December. The checkers-solution ranked last, after discoveries like reprogramming cells and using memories to predict the future.
Last year, Björnsson also became the world champion in artificial intelligence along with Hilmar Finnsson, a Masters student in computing science at Reykjavík University, by winning the international General Game-Playing Competition in Canada in July.
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