FiveThirtyEight's Signals

On May 3, 1997, Garry Kasparov sat down to do battle against his nemesis, the IBM chess-playing machine "Deep Blue", though this time with an improved model, "Deeper Blue". Kasparov won the first game with ease. However, Game 2 proved to be different.

In the early 1960's, the Dallas Cowboys wanted to develop a computer system that would evaluate draft eligible college players. Enter A. Salam Qureishi, a brilliant Indian computer programmer and statistician.

Grace Hopper dedicated her life to bringing computers to the masses, when most supposed the technology was only useful for scientists and the military. Through her genius, she taught software English, so that everyone could communicate with computers.

You know the name Kevin Durant. But unless you're a true basketball insider, you don't know the name of the man who helped Durant become an MVP: Justin Zormelo. A former student manager for the Georgetown basketball team, and a trained mathematician, Zormelo uses advanced analytics and film studies to propel players toward perfection, players like Durant. And now Zormelo has an intriguing prospect who just might make a name for himself: Thon Maker, a 17-year-old from Sudan with the height of a center (7'1") and the skills of a guard. Follow Zormelo as he trains and guides this unique student from promise into the spotlight.

In 1857 off the Carolina coast, the SS Central America sank in a Category 2 hurricane and with it, thirty thousand pounds of gold valued today at roughly 548 million dollars. Over a century later and after many failed attempts to locate “The Ship of Gold”, a team of explorers led by Tommy Thompson skillfully implemented Bayesian Search theory, statistically limiting the possible locations where the ship went down. Only months later, they ultimately struck gold. But when the financiers of his expedition came looking for their cut, Tommy Thompson disappeared. We will investigate this dramatic modern day treasure hunt and the incredible roots of Bayesian Search, as we go deep into the world of "The Gold Hunters."

1998. Minnesota. A heated race is taking place for the empty Governor’s chair between District Attorney and Democratic nominee Hubert H. Humphrey III, Republican nomineeand current Mayor of St. Paul Norm Coleman and a third candidate, the mayor of a tiny town called Brooklyn Park running under the reform party named James George Janos... or as the rest of the world knew him, Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Chronicling Ventura's campaign, this short will examine how a grass roots campaign, great debating, and most importantly, polling, paved the way for the former WWF star to become Minnesota's governor.