O.R. and Analytics in the News

The Hidden Threat in America’s Defense: Our Energy Grid

The Hidden Threat in America’s Defense: Our Energy Grid

Innovation & Tech Today, April 8, 2025

The threat of a terrorist attack on America’s energy grid is growing, with attempts being reported at increasing rates. If it’s not terrorism, it could be adversarial nation-states. This all increases the likelihood that a significant attack on the grid could succeed, leaving large swaths of the U.S. in the dark.

Airline stocks plummet after Trump’s tariffs

Airline stocks plummet after Trump’s tariffs

Money Tourism, April 4, 2025

Shares in US airlines – already down 24% this year – fell even further after Donald Trump’s tariffs, as an increasingly unstable economy has experts warning of higher summer holiday costs for consumers.

Study finds ChatGPT mirrors human decision biases in half the tests

Study finds ChatGPT mirrors human decision biases in half the tests

Celebrity Gig, April 2, 2025

Can we really trust AI to make better decisions than humans? A new study says … not always. Researchers have discovered that OpenAI’s ChatGPT, one of the most advanced and popular AI models, makes the same kinds of decision-making mistakes as humans in some situations—showing biases like overconfidence of hot-hand (gambler’s) fallacy—yet acting inhuman in others (e.g., not suffering from base-rate neglect or sunk cost fallacies).

Why Dollar General has built faster in NC, despite downtown Raleigh closure and stock sink  Read more at: https://www.heraldsun.com/news/business/a...

Why Dollar General has built faster in NC, despite downtown Raleigh closure and stock sink Read more at: https://www.heraldsun.com/news/business/article302674874.html#storylink=cpy

The Herald Sun, March 26, 2025

One is never far from a Dollar General in most North Carolina towns. North of Durham, for example, the Vance County seat of Henderson has six stores within a four-mile radius. The Granville County seat of Oxford and its 9,000 residents support four Dollar Generals, while Roxboro in neighboring Person County has a smaller population but still five stores within 10 miles.

How Small Restaurants Are Dealing With Record Egg Prices

How Small Restaurants Are Dealing With Record Egg Prices

InfluentialMag, March 26, 2025

Bird flu outbreaks that wiped out about 15 percent of the nation’s egg-laying chickens and drove wholesale egg prices to a peak of more than $8.50 a dozen in February have vexed grocery shoppers and prompted big breakfast chains to add surcharges to diners’ checks. But for owners of small eateries, paying double or triple for an ingredient they crack by the hundreds each day could potentially put them out of business.

Why 23andMe’s Genetic Data Could Be a ‘Gold Mine’ for AI Companies

Why 23andMe’s Genetic Data Could Be a ‘Gold Mine’ for AI Companies

TIME, March 26, 2025

The genetic testing company 23andMe, which holds the genetic data of 15 million people, declared bankruptcy on Sunday night after years of financial struggles. This means that all of the extremely personal user data could be up for sale—and that vast trove of genetic data could draw interest from AI companies looking to train their data sets, experts say.

Revolutionizing Grocery Shopping: Study Shows How Blockchain Enhances Freshness Transparency to Minimize Food Waste and Increase Profits

Revolutionizing Grocery Shopping: Study Shows How Blockchain Enhances Freshness Transparency to Minimize Food Waste and Increase Profits

Bioengineer, March 24, 2025

In an era where sustainability and efficiency have become paramount in the grocery sector, a groundbreaking study has emerged, emphasizing the role of blockchain technology in addressing the growing crisis of food waste and rising prices. The findings, published in the INFORMS journal Management Science, reveal how adopting blockchain for real-time freshness tracking can drastically enhance operational efficiencies and reshape how retailers interact with supply chains. This innovation not only serves to optimize inventory levels but also has the potential to reshape the entire grocery industry’s economic framework.